THE Philippines and United States Marine Corps yesterday started a counter-terrorism, island defense and humanitarian response exercise dubbed Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma ng Dagat or Kamandag at the Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio.
The fifth edition of the Kamandag exercise is scaled down but is still an improvement from last year when both countries canceled the annual activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Only 12 personnel from the US Marine Corps Forces Pacific and 242 from the Philippine Marine Corps are taking part in the 11-day day exercise. Some 25 personnel from the Japan Ground Self Defense Force will also join.
This is way below the number of personnel who participated in the last Kamandag 2019 exercise that involved 1,400 American, 600 Filipino and 100 Japanese troops.
Philippine Marine Corps commandant Maj. Gen. Ariel Caculitan led Philippine, US and Japan military officials during the formal opening rites.
Caculitan said they canceled last year’s exercise because they were not prepared for such training activity amid the pandemic.
“This time, we decided to push through with it. However, (its) very low-key and very minimal in participants,” said Caculitan, adding the exercise will be mostly subject matter expert exchanges, done virtually.
