The military said on Monday that the precision bombs that were turned over by the US government will greatly boost its effort in fighting both local and international terrorism.
“We may have been successful in counterterrorism operations—most notably in Marawi—with ordinary munitions fitted in our legacy aircraft. But with the advent of these missiles and munitions, we are certain that they will greatly boost our campaigns and contribute to the global drive to fight and defeat terrorists,” said Armed Forces spokesman Major Gen. Edgard Arevalo.
Arevalo was reacting to the ceremonial turnover of $18 million worth of precision guided munitions (PGMs) by US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien to Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., which the Filipino top diplomat said would be used against terrorists in Mindanao.
Other than local extremists, foreign terrorists also operate in Mindanao in tandem with members of local groups such as the Maute Group, Abu Sayyaf Group and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters which have all allied themselves with the Islamic State.
“These ‘smart munitions’ with such capability and precision will aid immensely the AFP in ridding the country of terrorist menaces,” Arevalo said.
The donations, which were flown in by a US military plane included 24 MK-82 bombs, an MK-82 crate/packaging, 100 tube launched optically guided wireless tow missiles 2A bunker busters and 12 improved target acquisition system and support equipment.
Meanwhile, the military began on Monday its 12-day Exercise AJEX “DAGIT-PA” at the AFP Education, Training and Doctrine Command (AFPETDC), whose aim was to enhance the operational inter-operability of the Air Force, Navy and the Army.
DAGIT-PA, which stands for “Dagat-Langit-Lupa,” is being held from November 23 up to December 4 in Northern Luzon and at Camp Aguinaldo, and is being participated by more than a thousand active and reserve soldiers.
The exercises involve drills focusing on territorial defense, internal security operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE), and cyber defense operations.
“The AFP-wide/AFP-only exercise integrates Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Army and Special Operations Forces to level up our operational effectiveness in sea, air and land,” said Arevalo, who is the exercise director and the commander of the AFPETDC.
Image credits: Eloisa Lopez/Pool Photo via AP