Kamandag kicks off in Cavite

MANILA, Philippines — Combined Filipino, American and Japanese military forces under “Kamandag” successfully liberated a portion of a military base in Ternate, Cavite from terrorists yesterday.

This was among the highlights of the joint Kamandag (venom) military exercise participated in by Filipino, American and Japanese forces in an amphibious assault on a Philippine Marine Corps base in Ternate.

American Osprey planes also took part in the drill which, for the first time, involved four brand new amphibious assault vehicles of the Philippine Marines, from the US Marines and from Japan Ground Self Defense Force.

“From our very own landing dock ship, BRP Davao del Sur, our four AAVs and AAVs from US and those from Japan, all coming for a US landing dock ship simultaneously hit the shorelines and respectively performed their assigned tasks,” Marine spokesman Capt. Felix Serapio said.

Serapio said the combined amphibious assault training was aimed at harnessing the skills of the three military forces to operate jointly in the event of an actual security threat involving local and foreign terrorists.

The combined amphibious drill also included humanitarian disaster response, an exercise performed by land-based military forces, also in Ternate.

“This year’s combined amphibious exercise was a success as Filipino, US and Japanese soldiers, while operating separately from their respective AAV platforms, they were able to operate jointly,” Serapio said. 

The joint exercise currently being held in various areas of the country – including Zambales and Palawan – kicked off at Subic, Zambales last Oct. 9 and will end Friday next week.

Kamandag is a combined military event between US and Philippine forces being held annually under the auspices of the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty between the two allied states. Japan join ed the exercise this year.