By Chris V. Panganiban
Inquirer Mindanao
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) wrapped up a four-day joint inter-agency exercise on Sunday across Surigao City, the Dinagat Islands, and key maritime corridors along the country’s eastern seaboard.
Dubbed “Exercise Surigao Sentinel 01-2026,” the Oct. 22–25 maneuvers coincided with the 82nd anniversary of the historic World War II Battle of Surigao Strait. The drill aligned with the military’s Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC), testing readiness across land, sea, air, cyber, and information domains.
Around 600 personnel from the Philippine Army, Navy, Air Force, and Reserve Force joined civilian agencies and local governments to evaluate operational coordination and territorial defense contingencies amid the AFP’s ongoing transition toward external defense.
Lt. Gen. Edmundo Peralta, AFP deputy chief of staff, represented AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Antonio Nafarrete during the closing ceremonies. Peralta said the drill validated EastMinCom’s unilateral defense posture and streamlined response protocols among regular units, reservists, and civil authorities.
“We see this exercise as a way to validate the unilateral defense plan of Eastern Mindanao Command and strengthen coordination between the AFP, our reserve forces, law enforcement agencies, and local government units,” Peralta said. “It allows us to see how well we can bring our different capabilities together and respond as one when the situation demands it.”
Reservists were heavily mobilized alongside regular troops, focusing on rapid integration and command-and-control procedures during simulated defense scenarios.
Civic and humanitarian operations ran parallel to the combat drills, including search-and-rescue simulations, disaster response drills, and medical and dental missions for local residents.
Dinagat Islands Gov. Nilo Demerey Jr. stressed that the joint exercises aimed to deter aggression through unified preparation rather than promote conflict.
“Today, we are not at war. The purpose of this exercise is not to glorify war. It is to prepare for the day we hope will never come,” Demerey said. “It is to make certain that if danger reaches our shores, our soldiers know what to do, our government knows what to do, our communities know what to do, and our people know where to stand.”
Surigao City Mayor Pablo Yves Dumlao II underscored the expanding scope of modern defense requirements.
“Today, security goes beyond protecting our land and seas; it also involves safeguarding our airspace, digital systems, and critical infrastructures, and above all, the lives and well-being of our people,” Dumlao said.
According to EastMinCom, data and after-action reports gathered during the four-day exercise will be used to identify equipment and coordination gaps, guiding future combined arms training along the eastern front.
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