340 PH, American troops join ‘Balikatan’ amphibious exercises

MANILA — Around 340 American and Filipino troops participated in Wednesday’s amphibious landing phase of this year’s “Balikatan” exercises.

The activity took place at the the Naval Education and Training Command in San Antonio, Zambales.

Participating Filipino troops were placed at 180 with American personnel at 160, “Balikatan” Combined Information Bureau head Lt. Liezl M. Vidallon said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency.

She added that BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602) and the two landing craft units assigned to her along with the frigate BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF-16) and three American amphibious assault vehicles took part in the event.

After the landing exercises, a building containing hostile elements were neutralized by combined units as a demonstration of military operations in urban terrain.

“Balikatan” 2018 started on Monday and will end on May 18. (PNA)

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