COTABATO CITY โ Philippine Marine and Army officials on Monday, April 14, expressed gratitude to local government units (LGUs) in Maguindanao del Norte for their strong support during the recently concluded Marine Exercise 2025, a 12-day joint military training activity between Philippine and US forces.
The bilateral drills, held from March 31 to April 11, were capped off with combat simulations, nighttime long-range target shooting, and ship-to-shore assault exercises. The exercise involved personnel from the Philippine and US Marine Corps, the Philippine Armyโs 6th Infantry Division (6th ID), the Philippine Coast Guard, the Navy, and the Police Regional Office of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
Local Governments Vital Role Highlighted
Major General Arturo Rojas, commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps, highlighted the vital role played by local governments in facilitating the exercise. โWe are grateful to the LGUs in Maguindanao del Norte for their unwavering support,โ Rojas said during a press briefing on April 14.
The closing ceremony, held at Camp Iranun in Barangay Tugaig, Barira, saw the participation of both Philippine and US officials, including Captain Carter Collins of the 2nd Battalion, 1st US Marine Regiment, and Colonel Zaldy Dioneda, deputy commander of the 1st Marine Brigade.
Rojas also acknowledged the leadership of Major General Donald Gumiran of the 6th ID and Lieutenant General Antonio Nafarrete, commander of the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom), for ensuring smooth coordination throughout the exercise.
BARMM Political Support
The Philippine Navyโs 1st Marine Brigade, headquartered in Camp Iranun, operates across several municipalities in the province, including Barira, Matanog, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, Datu Odin Sinsuat, and Datu Blah Sinsuatโall under the operational control of the 6th ID.
Both Gumiran and Nafarrete thanked Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim and his successor Abdulraof “Gob” Macacua for their support, which was instrumental in mobilizing local officials in the province.
Marine Exercise 2025 is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen interoperability and security cooperation between the Philippines and the United States amid evolving regional security challenges.
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