AFP to launch new strategic defense command for joint drills with other countries

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is set to create a new Strategic Defense Command to work on the joint exercises with other countries.

In an ambush interview on Wednesday evening, AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said the new command will be operational within the year.

“It's basically going to be the fusion of efforts. Ngayon kasi, itong mga exercises natin na ito under siya ng ating [Education, Training, and Doctrine Command]. So gagawin natin itong unit na ito to specifically address all of these trainings na ginaganap natin,” Padilla said.

(It's basically going to be the fusion of efforts. Right now, these exercises are under our Education, Training, and Doctrine Command. So we will create this unit to specifically address all of these trainings that we are doing.)

Padilla said the Strategic Defense Command will be established because the exercises of the AFP with other countries have been expanding.

“Lumalawak 'yung scope niya so lahat ito it marries all of our efforts together. 'Yung modernization natin, marami na tayong new equipment that came in. So, kasama diyan, bundled diyan ang training,” she said.

(The scope of exercises is expanding so it marries all of our efforts together. With our modernization, we have a lot of new equipment that came in. So training is bundled with that.)

“With the exercises, paano natin gagamitin ito, how do we use this modern equipment that we have, and how do we interoperate and integrate this with the different nations also joining us,” she added.

Currently, the AFP is holding the annual Balikatan drills with the United States forces with 17,000 troops expected to join.

For this year’s Balikatan, the Philippine and US troops is engaging in a full battle exercise. —AOL, GMA Integrated News