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PH, Australia armies wrap up 'Kasangga' drills in CDO

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno
June 25, 2025, 12:29 pm

MANILA -- Filipino and Australian troops formally ended the first "Kasangga" bilateral exercise held in Mindanao on Tuesday.

"The PA (Philippine Army) and the Australian Defense Force bolstered their bilateral defense partnership with the conclusion of the Philippine-Australia Army-to-Army Exercise (PAAE) 'Kasangga' 2025-1 at Montalvan Hall, Camp Evangelista, Barangay Patag, Cagayan de Oro City on June 24, 2025," PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said in a statement Wednesday.

A total of 140 from the PA's 504th Combat Engineer Battalion, Combat Engineer Regiment, and selected troops from the 4th and 10th Infantry Divisions trained side by side with 90 Australian Army soldiers during the month-long drills, which began May 19.

The drills included jungle and urban operations, breaching operations, tactical combat casualty care, jungle survival training, as well as mobility, counter-mobility, and reconnaissance operations.

"May the lessons learned, the camaraderie formed, and the confidence built in each other carry forward in all that you do. Let us nurture this alliance, institutionalize our gains, and work tirelessly to contribute in upholding the peace and stability of our region. May you continue to be resolute in our drive to improve and be better every day or as I always say, let's beat yesterday," Eastern Mindanao Command chief, Lt. Gen. Rex Luis Bergante, said.

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Mark Ascough, Office of the Chief of Defense Intelligence, Australian Defense Force, expressed appreciation for the warm partnership and shared the commitment of both nations to promoting peace and security.

"The Army leadership lauded the participating troops for their commitment to the bilateral training, which marks a significant advancement in both countries' defense cooperation and shared commitment as strategic partners to ensuring security in the broader Indo-Pacific Region," Dema-ala said.

The PA's 9th and 5th Infantry Division previously hosted two iterations of "Kasangga" in Northern Luzon and the Bicol Region last year.

Kasangga, which means "ally" or "partner" in Filipino, involves real-world training scenarios that will challenge the participating troops' skills and expertise while enhancing their knowledge of each other's tactics, techniques, and procedures. (PNA)