THE EASTERN Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) is set to stage “Exercise Surigao Sentinel 2026” (EXSS 2026) from Oct. 22 to 25, a major joint inter-agency exercise to testing multi-domain defense capabilities and operational readiness on Surigao Strait.
Anchored on the military’s Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC), the four-day exercise will be held in partnership with the City Government of Surigao, the Provincial Government of Dinagat Islands, and various civilian government agencies.
The drills coincide with the 82nd Anniversary of the historic Battle of Surigao Strait fought on Oct. 25, 1944—honoring World War II naval heroism while addressing modern national security challenges across land, sea, air, cyber, and information domains.
According to EastMinCom, the exercise forms a crucial part of the command’s ongoing transition toward external defense operations and territorial sovereignty protection.
“Beyond its historical significance, Exercise Surigao Sentinel 2026 serves a vital purpose in strengthening the AFP’s operational readiness amid increasingly complex security challenges,” EastMinCom noted in an operational framework statement.
The joint drills will feature high-level tactical scenarios, including:
- Live-Fire & Strike Operations: Counter-Landing Live-Fire Exercise (CLLFEX), Maritime Air Strike Operations (MASO), and Indirect Fire Exercises.
- Maritime Security & Interdiction: Surface Exercises (SURFEX), Maritime Domain Awareness, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), Coastal Defense, and Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) maneuvers.
- Humanitarian & Emergency Response: Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) and Noncombatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) to test military-civilian synergy during contingencies.
EastMinCom emphasized that testing command-and-control procedures under simulated conditions will help identify capability gaps and ensure seamless interoperability among joint military units and local government stakeholders across Eastern Mindanao.
