Personnel from the 3rd Marine Brigade (3MBde) of the Philippine Marine Corps conducted a live-fire exercise in “defense of the country’s territory from invasion” during coastal defense operations, as part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Joint Exercise Dagat Langit Lupa (AJEX Dagit-Pa), along the shores of Sitio Long Point, Barangay Aporawan in Aborlan town on Sunday, November 10.
The coastal defense drills marked the conclusion of the Western Command’s two-day activity in Palawan for AJEX Dagit-Pa, which will continue with other activities in the joint area of operation under the Northern Luzon Command.
3MBde Deputy Commander Col. Wilfredo Manalang explained that the exercise is a joint operation involving different branches of the AFP.
He further noted that, compared to exercises conducted with allied forces, AJEX is a unilateral activity aimed at improving and “ensuring a seamless operation to address any kind of contingencies” among the AFP’s operating units.
The coastal defense operation featured two A-29 Super Tucano aircraft of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), which conducted a clearing operation at sea ahead of the live firing from Long Point’s shores, where marine troops used 105 Howitzer cannons, armored personnel carriers, squad rocket launchers, and heavy and light machine guns to suppress enemies and prevent them from reaching the shoreline.
Before the coastal defense drills, the troops also conducted an amphibious assault to “retake” the country’s territory from enemies in Barangay Aporawan last Saturday. Manalang noted that this activity was similar to an operation conducted in Kota Island at the start of the joint exercise.
He added that the sea conditions at Long Point last Saturday posed challenges for troop landings, but they were still able to complete the activity.
“Definitely, may epekto yung (malalaking) alon, but as you can see, yung professionalism ng mga sundalo natin dahil kahit iba yung situwasyon ay pinilit pa rin natin na ma-accomplish yung mission,” he said.
The 8th iteration of AJEX has shifted its focus from counter-terrorism to territorial defense, maritime security, and cyber defense, with the goal of enhancing the AFP’s tactics, techniques, and procedures essential for effective coordination in multi-domain operations.
Meanwhile, Palawan Governor Victorino Dennis Socrates expressed full support for the AFP’s military exercises, noting significant improvements in the military’s equipment.
As a reserved officer of the PAF, Socrates said he now feels more confident that the AFP can defend the country’s territory after observing notable enhancements in the AFP’s capabilities.
“Marami akong natutunan ngayon. Apparently, yung ating mga armas at equipo ay malaki na ang iginanda kesa noong panahon na ako ay nagti-training pa lamang sa kolehiyo sa ROTC,” he said.
“At natutuwa ako na sa exercise na ito, parang napapatunayan sa aking kalooban na kaya nating pigilan ang sinumang magtatangkang lumusob sa ating kalupaan,” he added.
He also encouraged provincial government employees and the youth to join and enlist as reservists.
“Sa bahagi ng provincial government, we are also on the road of supporting the campaign of the AFP to increase our reservists. So inaaya ko nga yung mga taga-kapitolyo na magpalista sa reserve,” he said.
“So I’d like to encourage yung ating kabataan at kahit yung hindi kabataan na sumali sa reserve forces, maging laang-kawal tayo ng ating AFP bilang tanda rin ng ating willingness to do our part for our country,” he concluded.
