CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) opened the first-ever simultaneous conduct of Maritime Training Activity SAMA-SAMA (MTA SAMA-SAMA) and LUMBAS on Tuesday, October 11.

The Chief of Staff of the AFP, Lieutenant General Bartolome Vicente Bacarro presided over the opening ceremony at the Naval Forces Central (NAVFORCEN) in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines through the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) led by Lt. Gen. Ernesto Torres Jr has already alerted all units in Northern Luzon for possible deployment in areas expected to be affected by Tropical Depression Maymay. These include the disaster response units of all battalions and brigades under NOLCOM's joint operational area that will be affected by the storm. Air and naval assets under operational control of NOLCOM are also on standby and may be used for aerial assessment, transport, and evacuation operations.

Romeo Nanta who used the nom de guerre Juanito Magbanua was killed in an encounter in Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on October 10, 2022. His death is a big blow to the CPP/NPA/NDF.

Nanta is the spokesperson of the Communist Terrorist Group's Apolinario Gatmaitan Command and Commanding Officer of the Regional Operational Command of the NPA units operating in Negros Island and the entire Central Visayas region. He is directly responsible for all the crimes committed by NPA members under his command. He has existing warrants of arrest for rebellion, robbery-in-band, and attempted and frustrated murder.

LTGEN BARTOLOME VICENTE O BACARRO PA, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and ADMIRAL JOHN C AQUILINO, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command co-chaired the 2022 Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB)on 27 September 2022.

The Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board was created to tackle traditional and non-traditional security concerns faced by both the Philippines and the United States as partners. It is composed of key leaders from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Department of National Defense, and the Department of Foreign Affairs.