Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. fired back at Beijing on Tuesday, April 21, as China criticized the ongoing Exercise Balikatan between the Armed Forces of the Philippines, United States, and other allied forces, saying the drills are part of a “collective...
The 41st iteration of Exercise Balikatan officially kicked off this week, touted as the largest and most complex version of the Philippines-United States annual war games to date. Running from April 20 to May 8, the exercise features more than 17,000 soldiers from the Armed Forces of the...
After nearly five decades in the public eye, Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. formally announced his retirement as the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity on Tuesday, April 21. Galvez cited personal and family obligations as the primary reason for his departure from the Marcos...
What was supposed to be a routine training day under Exercise Balikatan quickly turned into a real-world rescue as Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and United States military personnel worked together to rescue six civilians after a truck lost control and plunged into a ravine near Lal-lo...
The Philippine Army (PA) will sustain its campaign against communist insurgents despite a series of deadly encounters in Negros Occidental that left 19 alleged New People’s Army (NPA) members dead, its chief said Monday, April 20. Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarette, PA commanding general, mourned the...
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr. opened the 41st iteration of Exercise Balikatan at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Monday, April 20, saying it would be more than a military routine but a test of alliance and a signal of shared responsibility amid a tense...
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) sent an S-70i Black Hawk helicopter to help contain a grass and forest fire on Homonhon Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar on Sunday, April 19. Col. Ma. Christina Basco, PAF spokesperson, said the helicopter has completed nine sorties, and for each run, it carried water...
Nineteen suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in a series of encounters with government troops in Toboso, Negros Occidental, the Philippine Army (PA) confirmed on Monday, April 20. The clashes involved troops from the 79th Infantry (Masaligan) Battalion under the 303rd...
The largest iteration of Exercise Balikatan will kick off on Monday, April 20, with around 17,000 troops from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and counterparts from the United States and five other nations taking part in an “expanded” set of war games designed to test modern defense...
The Philippine Army (PA) and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) agreed to step up joint training and explore defense technology cooperation following their latest high-level talks. Lt. Gen. Antonio G. Nafarrete, PA commanding general, and Gen. Arai Masayoshi, JGSDF chief of staff, held their...
An alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebel killed after a string of fierce encounters with the Philippine Army (PA) across Samar Island was abandoned by his comrades, the Philippine Army (PA) confirmed Saturday, April 18. The 8th Infantry Division (8ID) said troops from the 46th Infantry Battalion...
The military has activated a central command and intelligence hub in Northern Luzon to streamline large-scale maneuvers with counterparts from the United States for the upcoming Exercise Balikatan next week. The Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) established its exercise support group (NESG) and a...
