The ten-day Exercise Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma ng Dagat (KAMANDAG) officially kicks off, led by the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) along with allied forces from eight other countries.
A total of at least 2,351 participants from the Philippines, United States, South Korea, Japan, United Kingdom, Australia, France, Thailand, and Indonesia began their training today.
According to the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC), 150 members of their elite force, along with marine reservists and personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), will participate in KAMANDAG.
The drills will focus on various special operations and coastal defense capability exercises in Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, and the area in front of the Western Command operational zone.
This includes several live-fire exercises in Ilocos Norte, as well as raid, assault, and counter-landing drills in Palawan.
KAMANDAG is part of a range of activities that have been agreed upon by the Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board of the Philippines and the U.S. alliance.
