FILIPINO and American troops are set to launch next week “Operation Lightning Strike,” a training activity aimed at honing their skills in responding to threats.
Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala said the activity will be conducted in Palayan City in Nueva Ecija on Monday as part of the ongoing “Salaknib” Phase 2 which started on May 17 and will run until July 7.
Dema-ala said the upcoming activity will involve troops and assets from the Philippine Army’s Artillery Regiment and 25th Infantry Division of the US Army Pacific. Four AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and two High Mobility Rocket Systems will be featured in the exercise.
The Army public affairs office, in an advisory, said the Operation Lighting Strike is “designed to showcase the Philippine Army’s operational capabilities, joint interoperability, and commitment to regional security and readiness.”
“The live-fire exercise offers a rare opportunity (for the media) to witness advance tactics, coordination, and firepower in action,” the advisory added.
Filipino and US troops on June 19 conducted large-scale land, air and sea operational maneuvers in Cagayan, also under the Salaknib Phase 2, involving 1,200 Philippine Army and US Army Pacific troops, Dema-ala said.
He said the troops “carried out land, air and sea movements and critical exercises such as special operations forces missions, gap crossing, ground assault, convoy sustainment and communications on the move.”
Army chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido is scheduled to grace the closing ceremony for the Salaknib Phase 2 on July 7.
The Salaknib Phase 1 was conducted from March 24 to April 11 in various sites in northern and central Luzon.
The Philippine Army earlier said the Salaknib exercises seek to improve readiness in responding to “evolving threats” and uphold its “vital role in the nation’s land defense as part of the AFP’s broader mission in external security operations.”
Meanwhile, a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel, BRP Teresa Magbanua, arrived yesterday at the Port Area in Manila from Japan after taking part in a maritime exercise with Japanese and US coast guards in Japan.
PCG deputy commandant for administration Rear Adm. Hostillo Arturo Cornelio welcomed the vessel and its 123-man crew.
BRP Teresa Magbanua left Manila on June 6 for the June 16 to 20 trilateral maritime exercise in Japan, which included training activities communication, search and rescue exercise, firefighting, photo, and transfer of personnel exercises.
“The trilateral exercise not only enhanced interoperability among the participating Coast Guards, but also strengthened their collective capability to respond to maritime emergencies and natural disasters,” the PCG said.
