ZAMBALES, Philippines — The militaries of the Philippines and the United States on Monday, April 27, held a Counter-Landing Live Fire Exercise at the Apurawan Beach Landing Site in Aborlan, Palawan under Balikatan 2026 or the yearly war games between the two treaty allies. 

The Philippine Marines’ Palawan-based 3rd Marine Brigade led the exercise, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said, for drills that simulated an enemy amphibious landing along the coastline. 

“The activity demonstrated strong coordination and interoperability among participating forces in a complex littoral environment,” said the AFP. 

The Philippines deployed FA-50 fighter jets for air interdiction, while the US used the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). “Ground forces executed mid- to close-range engagements using artillery, mortars, light armored vehicles, anti-armor systems, heavy machine guns, and infantry weapons, supported by precision strikes and reconnaissance,” said the AFP. 

General Romeo S Brawner Jr, AFP chief of staff, addresses troops from the Philippines, United States, Australia, and New Zealand at Apurawan Beach, Aborlan, Palawan following the successful Counter-Landing Live Fire Exercise (CLLFX-West) held on April 27, 2026. A Special Forces member from the AFP and a US Marine share a fist bump in front of a Black Hawk helicopter during the Counter-Landing Live Fire Exercise – West in Apurawan Beach, Aborlan, Palawan on April 27, 2026. A light armored vehicle (LAV) deployed by the Philippine Marine Corps’ 3rd Marine Brigade engages simulated maritime threats during the Counter-Landing Live Fire Exercise – West in Apurawan Beach, Aborlan, Palawan on April 27, 2026. Two US High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) stand ready on the coastline during the Counter-Landing Live Fire Exercise at Apurawan Beach, Palawan on April 27, 2026. Philippine and US Marines maintain a defensive posture in a beachfront trench during the Counter-Landing Live Fire Exercise at Apurawan Beach, Palawan on April 27, 2026. A Philippine Marine provides precision overwatch from a concealed littoral fighting hole during the Counter-Landing Live Fire Exercise at Apurawan Beach, Palawan on April 27, 2026. US forces coordinate heavy machine gun suppression from a fortified position under a camouflage net during the Counter-Landing Live Fire Exercise at Apurawan Beach, Palawan on April 27, 2026.

Troops also simulated the evacuation of civilians in Sitio Bubusawin and Sitio Long Point and held a community outreach activity. – Rappler.com