ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider AFP steps up regional security role as PAF holds air patrols with US, PN joins India fleet review

AFP steps up regional security role as PAF holds air patrols with US, PN joins India fleet review

Published Feb 8, 2026 08:26 am
Two FA-50PH fighter aircraft and two U.S. B-52 bomber aircraft conducted a Bilateral Bomber Air Patrol over the West Philippine Sea on February 6, 2026. (Photo: Philippine Air Force)
Two FA-50PH fighter aircraft and two U.S. B-52 bomber aircraft conducted a Bilateral Bomber Air Patrol over the West Philippine Sea on February 6, 2026. (Photo: Philippine Air Force)
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) expanded its regional defense footprint as the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and Philippine Navy (PN) carried out separate but strategic activities with key partners in the Indo-Pacific region, military officials said on Sunday, Feb. 8.
The PAF conducted high-profile bilateral bomber air patrol and live drop exercise with the United States Pacific Air Forces (US PACAF) from Feb. 2 to 6.
The activities took place at multiple locations including Colonel Ernesto Rabina Air Base in Tarlac City and airspace over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and Luzon Strait.
The exercise was supported by the Special Operations Command Pacific and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific.
PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Christina Basco said the PAF deployed its FA-50PH fighter aircraft while the US sent its B-52 bomber aircraft during the exercises.
The drills focused on airspace coordination, command-and-control integration, and joint operational response, she noted.
“Through these combined air activities and multi-domain support, the PAF continued to strengthen defense partnerships and reinforce its capability to safeguard national airspace and uphold sovereignty,” she said.
(Photo: Philippine Navy)
(Photo: Philippine Navy)
Meanwhile, at the Naval Base Heracleo Alano in Cavite City, the PN sent off its contingent for its first-ever participation in the International Fleet Review 2026 and the Multilateral Naval Exercise MILAN 2026 in India from Feb. 15 to 25.
Ships from 19 countries and approximately 4,000 delegates would be participating in the activities hosted by the Indian Navy.
Rear Admiral Peter Jempsun V. De Guzman, acting commander of the Naval Defense Command, led the send-off ceremony ahead of the contingent’s sail to Visakhapatnam.
The PN will be represented by BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG06), the lead ship of the Malvar-class guided missile frigate.
The ship is under the command of Captain Paul Michael P. Hechanova PN(GSC), who will serve as commander of Naval Task Group 80.5, the unit that will take part in the fleet review and naval exercises.
De Guzman said the International Fleet Review 2026 provides a platform for participating navies to exchange views and strengthen cooperation in support of peace, stability, and development in the Indo-Pacific region.
Meanwhile, he noted that MILAN 2026 is a multilateral naval exercise designed to enhance interoperability and operational coordination among partner navies.
“The Philippine Navy’s participation in the International Fleet Review and Multilateral Exercise MILAN 2026 reflects the Navy’s steadfast commitment to international cooperation, maritime peace, and regional stability,” De Guzman shared.

Related Tags

Philippine Air Force Philippine Navy PACAF air patrol WPS Fleet review MILAN 2026 India
ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.