The Philippine Marine Corps. (PMC) prepares to help repatriate Filipinos from Taiwan in case of a crisis in the country.
BGen. Vicente Blanco III made the statement on Tuesday, October 15, the first day of the 2024 KAMANDAG (Kaagapay Ng Mga Mandirigma Ng Dagat) joint military exercises between the Philippines and the United States.
"I think it is more of a preparing our forces whenever there will be repatriation of our (Overseas Filipino Workers)," said Blanco, the Philippines' exercise director for KAMANDAG.
Tampok sa Exercise KAMANDAG ang senaryo ng paglikas sa mga OFW sakaling lumala ang gulo sa Taiwan.
— Edniel Parrosa (@ednielparrosa) October 15, 2024
Pero ayon kay exercise director BGen. Vicente Blanco III, hindi ito nakatuon sa pagsali sa giyera o bakbakan.
Isasagawa ang drills sa Palawan at Northern Luzon. @dzrhnews pic.twitter.com/zrxAlQuTSp
The annual joint exercises kicked off a day after China conducted military drills around Taiwan, which the former consider as part of its territory.
The activities for the 2024 KAMANDAG will include live-fire exercises, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief demonstration, in Ilocos Norte, a region less than 700 kilometers away from Taiwan.
Blanco stressed that the exercises does not seek to prepare the Philippines to join any conflict over Taiwan.
1,072 personnel of the United States Marine Corps, and 1,150 forces from the Philippines will take part in the 10-day joint exercieses.
South Korea, Japan, United Kingdom, Australia, France, Thailand, and Indonesia will also participate in the 2024 KAMANDAG.
