About 5,000 Filipino and U.S. troops are scheduled to participate in the joint exercise dubbed as Salaknib between the Philippines and the United States on March 24.
This is in preparation for the Balikatan exercises next month, in which the forces of the Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force will also participate.
Philippine Army Spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said Salaknib is focused on territorial defense operations, sustainment, interoperability, and humanitarian civil assistance.
Meanwhile, Dema-ala did not confirm whether the Typhon MRC missile that China is questioning will be used again in the Salaknib exercises.
The U.S. army website describes Salaknib as an annual Philippine Army-led, U.S. Army Pacific-sponsored bilateral exercise designed to enhance the U.S. and Philippine Army’s capacity and interoperability across the spectrum of military operations while strengthening the ties between the two long-standing allies.
Soldiers from both nations will participate in field training, live-fire exercises, subject matter exchanges and share best practices in multiple key functional areas, including fire support, communications, engineering, counter-improvised explosive devices and aviation.
(Philippine Army Photo)
Abner is an award-winning journalist. He received the prestigious 2015 Titus Brandsma Award for Community Communication in the Philippines and participated in the 2016 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States of America, sponsored by the US Embassy in the Philippines. Founder of WATCH NORTH COTABATO, a media-citizens’ transparency group. He worked as a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and CNN Philippines. His experience in broadcasting includes anchoring for Brigada News FM in Kidapawan and General Santos City and Brigada News TV. He anchors Tira Brigada via 105.1 Brigada News FM Manila, Mondays-Saturdays.