AFP's joint military exercise to be held in Antique town Nov. 18

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 16, 2021): AFP's joint military exercise to be held in Antique town Nov. 18 (By Annabel Consuelo Petinglay)

DAGIT-PA. Shorelines along La Parola Beach Resort in the Municipality of Patnongon, Antique. Capt. Kim Apitong of the Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division said on Tuesday (Nov. 16, 2021) a joint military exercise of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) or DAGIT-PA 05-21 will be held along the shores of La Parola Beach Resort in the Municipality of Patnongon, Antique on November 18. (Photo courtesy of La Parola Beach Resort)

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will be holding its joint military exercise or "DAGIT-PA (dagat (sea), langit (sky) and lupa (land) 05-21" in the northern coastal Municipality of Patnongon, Antique on November 18.

Capt. Kim Apitong of the Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division said in an interview Tuesday the AFP joint exercise, the fifth one for 2021, will showcase the country’s military capabilities in water, air, and land.

“The one-day joint exercise will be held at La Parola Beach Resort in Patnongon because of it being a suitable area for the amphibious capability demonstration,” he said.

He added that the amphibious capability demonstration, which will showcase the latest military assets from shores to land, will be participated in by the Philippine Marines, Naval Special Operation Units, Philippine Army, Air Force, and Navy Reservists.

Apitong said the joint exercise is further aimed to develop interoperability among the military forces of the government.

“La Parola Beach Resort in Patnongon had been chosen as the site for Antique because the vicinity is not heavily populated and that there is a good viewing site from the shores for those who will be coming for the event,” he added.

Organizers expect the local chief executives (LCEs) in the province and other guests to witness their capability demonstration.

A day before the capability demonstration La Parola Beach Resort in Patnongon, there will also be a live firing and urban operation exercise by the government forces at Camp Peralta, Jamindan in Capiz.

Apitong, in a virtual press conference on Monday, said they are giving out information ahead of the event so that the public will be aware and will not panic when they see the various military assets of the government in the province.

There is no current threat to the peace and order in the province of Antique, but rather the place is just conducive for the amphibious exercise, Apitong said.

Maj. Emery Torre of the Marine Corps Public Affairs Office, who also joined the virtual press conference, said their water assets are now within the shores of Antique ready for the exercise.

He, however, did not identify what are these water assets that they will be using and the number of participants. (PNA)

(Editor's note: Corrected the name of the AFP Joint Exercise from "Balikatan" to "DAGIT-PA (dagat, langit at lupa) 05-21")

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1159890