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PBBM to witness island-retaking military exercise with US, Aussie troops in Zambales

Philippines | National

PBBM to witness island-retaking military exercise with US, Aussie troops in Zambales

By Aaron Recuenco

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. is expected to witness a war simulation of retaking an island occupied by enemy forces during a joint military exercises of Philippine Marines and its United States and Australian counterparts in Zambales on Friday, Aug. 25.

Brig. Gen. Jimmy Larida, deputy commandant of the Philippine Marines and exercise director of Exercise Alon 2023, said the amphibious landing part of the war games serves as the main event as it would try to make the retaking of an island as realistic as possible.

During the exercises, Larida said some soldiers will play the role of the enemy.

The simulation war games will be held in the coastal part of San Antonio town in Zambales but Larida was quick to clarify that the military exercise is not directed to any country but purely for the enhancement of the interoperability of the three country’s Marine forces.

“This is a notional enemy of an island of a notional country of Calabania. It is not designed to prepare for a particular country,” said Larida.

“This is not designed in preparation to a particular enemy, or refer to any specific area in the West Philippine Sea. This is very general and is aimed at equipping our marines with the skills on amphibious operations and how to operate in a joint and combined environment,” he added.

Larida said the Defense minister of Autralia will aso witness the event as guests, together with top officials of the Department of National Defense (DND) led by Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and high-ranking Philippine military officials led by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner.

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