PMC says commitment to PHL security made them PHIBLEX supporters

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 5): PMC says commitment to PHL security made them PHIBLEX supporters

Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) commandant Major Gen. Andre Costales said the commitment to provide better security to the country has made them active partners to the ongoing Philippine Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) which formally started Tuesday.

"(Commitment is) the value which started the engagements and exercises for PHIBLEX, and the value which keeps us going. Our commitment to the rendering service to provide security has brought us this part and it has been continuously updated, upgraded to stand with the advancements of technology, demands of natural and man-made threats, and hybridized warfare strategies," he added.

PHIBLEX started Tuesday and will end on October 12. It will take place in selected areas in Luzon and Palawan.

Around 1,400 US military personnel and 500 Filipino soldiers will be taking part in the 33rd iteration of the exercises this year.

"Along with the changes, PHIBLEX has not been exempted from the tests of cultural differences, resource and mobility challenges, and external criticisms. yet, our forerunners kept their word, and that’s commitment. I am sure, all of us know what is expected from your marines and from our successors, our commitment – persistent, unbroken," the PMC head added.

Through maintaining the country's commitment to the conduct of PHIBLEX, Costales said PMC has been able to contribute to the attainment of national objectives pertinent to our international defense and security engagement program.

"Through PHIBLEX, we are able to focus on opportunities that enable my marines to develop capability and enhance personnel capacity to address various challenges that are regularly identified, cultivate support from our domestic allies for national initiatives and priorities and promote cooperation in addressing regional and international issues," he added.

"I suppose our strategic allies also stand by the same principle. With goodwill, I have boundless faith that the commitment of my marines is also the commitment of domestic and regional stakeholders in terms of military integration and inter-operability," Costales concluded.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=928735