Taguig City: At least 4,000 Filipino and American troops have commenced participation in the two-week 'Kamandag' military exercise, which began on Monday at Marine Barracks Rudiardo Brown in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

According to Philippines News Agency, 'Kamandag' (venom), an acronym for 'Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma mula sa Dagat' or Partners of Warriors from the Sea, is an annual bilateral exercise between the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) and the US Marine Corps (USMC). The PMC has reported that 2,028 Filipino participants from the PMC, Marine reservists, Philippine National Police, and Philippine Coast Guard are taking part in the exercises. These activities are scheduled to continue until June 6 across multiple sites in Central and Northern Luzon.

On the US side, 2,031 USMC members are participating in the drills. Kamandag, held annually since 2016, aims to enhance joint capabilities in addressing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. The exercise includes activities such as command and control training, maritime security, coastal defense, live-fire drills, and special operations.