PH Marines begin drills with US; ‘Our partnership is unbreakable’

From left to right: Major General Shingo Nashinoki of Japan Ground Self-Defense Force; Brigadier General Jimmy Larida of Philippine Marine Corps; Colonel Thomas Siverts of United States Marine Corps; Major Kwon Juil of Republic of Korea’s Marine Corps; and Colonel Gregorio Hernandez of Philippine Navy. (John Eric Mendoza/INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — This year’s marine corps drills between Philippines and United States have kicked off.

The opening ceremony for the seventh bilateral exercises was held at the Naval Station Jose Francisco in Taguig city on Thursday.

The events are dubbed ‘Kamandag,’ a Filipino word for venom.

“The drills will focus on coastal defense, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense,” according to Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr.

“It will also involve humanitarian assistance and disaster response,” he added.

Adaci is Philippine Navy’s Flag-Officer-in-Command.

Philippine Marine Corps commandant Major General Arturo Rojas said these drills seek to enhance regional readiness against external threats.

“Together, we send a powerful message to the world, especially to those who may seek to disrupt the peace – that our partnership is unbreakable, our resolve unyielding, and our commitment to defending our nations is always unwavering,” he said.

For his part, US Marine Corps Colonel Thomas Siverts said this exercise is part of Washington’s commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty.

Siverts is the commanding officer of US Marine Rotational Force in Southeast Asia

“Undoubtedly, we crafted this exercise based on the Mutual Defense Treaty,” Siverts said in a press conference.

The accord states Manila and Washington will support each other if an external party attack either one of them.

In previous exercises, drills were mostly held in Northern Luzon.

This year’s Kamandag will be conducted in more provinces including Batanes, Metro Manila, Cavite, Palawan, Zamboanga city and Tawi-Tawi.

Aside from the two countries, personnel from South Korea, Japan, and United Kingdom (UK) will join in the events.

A total of 2,749 personnel will participate in the drills.

1,732 are from Philippines; 902 from US; 57 from South Korea, 50 from Japan, and eight from UK.