Maj. Gen. Leodevic B. Guinid, vice commander of the Army, discusses activities for SABAK 2025 with 25th ID Deputy Commander Usarpac Brig. Gen. Jonathan A. Velishka and US Army counterparts during the joint opening ceremony of SABAK 2025 at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija on March 24, 2025. —Photo from the Philippine Army
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Army and the United States Army Pacific (Usarpac) kicked off this year’s Salaknib and Balikatan (SABAK) exercises in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, on Monday.
According to the Philippine Army, SABAK 2025 consists of continuous operation that focuses on “enhancing combined/joint all-domain operations, reinforces warfighting capabilities, and showcases a strong bilateral commitment to safeguarding the Philippines’ territorial integrity.”
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“Aimed at strengthening defense readiness, SABAK 2025 will also provide critical training in Humanitarian Civil Assistance, Information Operations, Counter-Intelligence, and Protection,” the Army said in a statement on Monday.
“The exercise will tackle capability enhancement on operational Command and Control, Combined Arms Force-on-Force, Large-scale Operational Maneuvers, Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise, and Sustainment Operations in support of External Security Operations,” it added.
Around 3,000 Philippine Army troops and 2,000 Usarpac troops participated in the Salaknib exercise — a broader part of the Balikatan exercise.
The exercise’s Phase 1 already started and will last until April 11 this year, while Phase 2 will be held from May 19 to July 20 in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, as well as the area of responsibility of the 5th and the 7th Infantry Division.