PHL, Australian troops hold joint military exercises in Rizal

Filipino soldiers and their Australian counterparts conducted a joint military exercise on Wednesday at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, to strengthen urban warfare capabilities.

Troops from the newly-organized 92nd Infantry (Tanglaw- Diwa) Battalion and the Land Advisory Team from Joint Task Group (JTG) 629, Australian Defense Force (ADF) participated in the joint exercise.

The 2nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army said the training aims to enhance the “knowledge, interoperability, tactics techniques and procedures” in combined urban operations. It also aims to “further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two armies.”

Wednesday's activity was the third of such exercise. It focused on the following: Urban Close Combat, Urban Sniping/Counter Sniping, Urban Search and Breaching (CIED), Joint Fires and Air Space Deconfliction in Urban Environment, Managing Combat Trauma in Urban Environment and Battalion Level planning exercise.

Major General Rhoderick Parayno, commander of the 2nd Infantry Division, said the Jungle Fighters are “honored and elated” that they were able to “benefit from the good bilateral relation” between the Philippine Army and Australian Defense Force.

“We are all aware that the threat of terrorism is very much present in our country and elsewhere, and considering that most of the areas being protected by 2nd Infantry Division are highly industrialized and urbanized,” Parayno said.

“[T]he conduct of this Urban Operations Training will surely help you to succeed in any urban warfare that may arise in your projected areas of deployment,” he added. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/KBK, GMA News