PA conducts training exercises with Malaysian, Indonesian counterparts

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 4): PA conducts training exercises with Malaysian, Indonesian counterparts

In line with efforts to boost defense ties with its neighbors, the Philippine Army (PA) will be participating in the 16th Series of Training Activity Land Malaysia-Philippines (MALPHI) which will be held from Sept. 9 to 21.

This year's iteration will focus on inter-operability and counterinsurgency operations, PA spokesperson Col. Benjamin Hao said.

He added that MALPHI will take place at the Peacekeeping Operations Center (PKOC) in Camp O'Donnell, Capas, Tarlac.

Hao stressed that combined Army operations will take place to enhance the interoperability of the PA and the Malaysian Army.

Seventy-six PA personnel and 30 Malaysian soldiers will take part in the two-week activity.

“MALPHI aims to enhance the long-standing professional relationship and cooperation between the two armies,” PA assistant chief-of-staff for training and education (G-8) Col. Jose C. Faustino Jr. said.

As this develops, the PA is also participating in the Training Activity DOLPHINE with the Indonesian army at the headquarters of Komando Pasukan Khusus (KOPASSUS) in Bandung, Indonesia that started on Aug. 24 and will end on Sept. 6.

The Training Activity DOLPHINE is a yearly bilateral training activity that focuses on the exchange of information, and techniques, tactics and procedures in the conduct of counter-insurgency operations.

The participants of the training include 20 personnel from the PA's Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) and 20 members of the Indonesian Army.

Training Activity DOLPHINE also involves the discussions and sharing of lessons learned in different military operations, including participation in humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations of KOPASSUS and Special Forces; cross training, and demonstration and use of the air operations training facilities of the Indonesian National Army.

“These cross trainings are part of our international agreements that aim to develop and promote cooperative activities in the defense and security of our respective countries,” Faustino said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=800438