Military starts 12-day territorial defense drill

THE Armed Forces yesterday started a 12-day military exercise meant to hone territorial defense of Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel.

“My esteemed colleagues let me impress upon you the gravity of this undertaking. We are not mere participants in a routine exercise. We are the leaders and the defenders of our nation,” Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr told around 1,500 participating military personnel at the opening of “Exercise Dagat, Langit, at Lupa (DAGITPA)” at the AFP general headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

The exercise will be held in various training areas in northern Luzon, and will be focused on territorial defense, maritime security, and counter-terrorism, the military said.

“In this exercise, we will fortify our territorial defense posture, sharpen our external security capabilities and respond to emerging threats with unparalleled precision,” Brawner said.

The military chief said there is a need to take the exercise “very seriously.”

“At this point, we have to take this very seriously because we can face a formidable competitor or adversary any time in the future. It could be in the near future, it could be in the far future. But it is important that we prepare today,” he said.

Brawner said the military has invited the PNP and the Philippine Coast Guard to witness the exercise, noting that the two agencies will be placed under the AFP control if war breaks out.

He said Exercise DAGITPA “will push the boundaries of our capabilities and test the mettle of our joint force like never before.”