Balikatan troops rescue 6 people after truck falls into Cagayan ravine

Six people were hurt after a cement-loaded truck plunged into a ravine near Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

In a statement released on Tuesday, the AFP said Philippine and United States troops participating in the Balikatan Exercise responded and rescued the victims, which took place on Monday. 

“Four casualties were immediately extricated from a cement-loaded truck that lost control and plunged into a ravine, and were transported to a nearby hospital,” the AFP said.

“Two others, initially trapped and assessed with life-threatening injuries, were later rescued and airlifted by a U.S. HH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to a higher-level medical facility for advanced treatment,” it added.

The AFP said US Marine Corps personnel in the area witnessed the incident and rendered initial assistance.

Troops from the 17th Infantry Battalion under Joint Task Force “Tala” reinforced rescue efforts and coordinated with the Philippine National Police for investigation, the AFP added.

“All individuals involved were confirmed to be Filipino civilians, with no military personnel affected,” the AFP said.

Balikatan

The Philippines and the United States formally opened the annual joint Balikatan Exercise on Monday, with 17,000 troops and several other countries expected to join.

Balikatan 2026 will cover multiple domains such as air and missile defense, maritime security, live-fire exercises, and joint readiness operations.

International think tank Stratbase Institute president and CEO Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit voiced “unequivocal support” for the 2026 Balikatan exercises, noting that these “represent the correct path forward” in how the Philippines must handle the ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea.  
 
“It affirms that we are not isolated, and that our national security is anchored in strong alliances with nations that uphold international law and share our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Manhit said in a separate press release. 
 
Manhit said these exercises have shown that the Philippines and its partners are prepared ''to defend the rules-based international order against coercion, intimidation, and unlawful claims.”  —with reports from Anna Felicia Bajo/ VAL, GMA News