Lieutenant Colonel Joe Patrick Martinez, spokesperson of the 4th Infantry Division, explained that the ongoing activity is a joint training between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States Armed Forces.
He emphasized that the exercise is centered on humanitarian assistance and disaster response, aimed at strengthening the readiness of both forces in dealing with natural calamities.
Martinez added that the training is part of the implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which has been carefully planned through a series of meetings and exercises since last year.
He clarified that the activity has no connection to the current tensions in the Middle East, noting that its timing is purely coincidental.
