(Photo courtesy of AFP) MANILA - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday announced that it has deployed 14 search, rescue, and retrieval (SRR) teams to areas severely affected by the magnitude 7 earthquake that hit Abra and other parts of northern Luzon on Wednesday. "Since yesterday (Wednesday) the 24th Infantry Battalion (24IB) has helped evacuate the patients in a hospital in Bangued, Abra. 71IB deployed personnel to rescue affected residents in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. 54IB, 72nd Division Reconnaissance Company, 502nd Infantry Brigade, and CAFGU Active Auxillary units helped in road clearing, provided transportation assistance, and conducted search and rescue operations in different areas in northern Luzon," AFP public affairs office chief, Col. Jorry Baclor, said in a statement. Baclor said the AFP also directed the Philippine Army's (PA) 525th Engineering and Construction Battalion, the Air Force's 505th Search and Rescue Group, and the Naval Installatio
(Photo courtesy of AFP) MANILA - Around 251 military personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the United States Indo-Pacific Command conducted free-falling exercises over Barangay Mapalad in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija last March 28 and 29. In a statement Wednesday, AFP public affairs office chief, Col. Jorry Baclor, said the participants are from major units of the Special Operation Forces (SOF) of the two nations and are "Military Free Faller and Airborne" qualified. "The 51 Philippine and US Military Free Fallers and 200 Static-Line Airborne parachuted towards the Drop Zone Royce located at Barangay Mapalad, Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija," he said. Baclor said this event, which is called the "Balikatan Friendship Jump'' aims to enhance individual, unit, joint, and combined SOF airborne capabilities. The jumpers jumped from two US MC130 aircraft while civilian and military observers watched. "Aside from the jump, the activity was also h
MANILA - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said it will deploy personnel assigned in various headquarters to help the government in ensuring that the coming May 9 local and national elections are safe and peaceful. "Military personnel performing non-combat missions may be tapped to carry out election duties prior, during, and after the National and Local Elections on May 9, 2022. This is to allow the AFP to focus on its primary mission to defeat local armed threats," said AFP public affairs office chief, Col. Jorry Baclor, in a statement. Based on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 10470, the AFP is among the deputized agencies and instrumentalities of the government that are tasked to ensure free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections. Despite this additional task, Baclor said the AFP will continue with the conduct of all internal security operations or its functions and responsibilities. Among election duties of military pers
(Photo courtesy of AFP) MANILA - Filipino and American soldiers started the construction of buildings in four schools in Luzon as part of this year's "Balikatan" exercises. In a statement Tuesday, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief, Col. Jorry Baclor, said groundbreaking ceremonies were held on Monday at Masi Elementary School in Rizal, Cagayan; Taggat Sur Elementary School and Pinas Elementary School, both in Claveria, Cagayan; and San Francisco Elementary School in Alicia, Isabela. "The activity is undertaken by engineering units and personnel from both the AFP and US Armed Forces to improve the infrastructure of local communities," Baclor said. He added that the construction of buildings in these schools is part of the Engineering Civic Action Program (ENCAP) which is being conducted before the official opening of the "Balikatan" exercises on March 28. "Balikatan" is an annual military exercise between the AF