PHIBLEX provides American, Filipino marines with insights to meet terror, internal security threats

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 4): PHIBLEX provides American, Filipino marines with insights to meet terror, internal security threats

Aside from beefing up the country's territorial defense capabilities, the annual amphibious landing exercises between American and Filipino marine units also provides more insight on meeting terrorism threats and internal security operations.

This was stressed by Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) commandant Major Gen. Andre M. Costales during opening salvo of the 33rd iteration of the Philippine Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) which took place at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City Tuesday.

PHIBLEX will take place in various locations in Luzon and Palawan and will last until Oct. 12.
"(The field exercises) covers the capacity and capability building not only for territorial defense but also on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, combating terrorism and internal security operations," Costales said.

And every year, PHIBLEX's aim is to enhance knowledge, skills, and strategy for inter-operability," he stressed.

Taking off from US and Philippines shared victories in the previous year’s exercises and learning a lot on the identified challenges and anticipated gaps and with commitment from the two respective marine forces, Costales said the goal to sustain to good relationship and cooperation has been kept, thereby upgrading each other’s capabilities and competencies.

An estimated 1,400 American military personnel and 500 Filipino soldiers will take part in PHIBLEX 33.
 http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=928511