JSOTF-P EOD Experts Share Expertise in Southern Philippines

U.S. military Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) experts assigned to the Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines (JSOTF-P) recently provided training to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police in Zamboanga City to safely dispose of 64 pieces of ordnance.

As reported by Philippines outlet ABS-CBN, local ordnance disposal takes place regularly in Zamboanga City, on the southern Philippines island of Mindanao, helping to ensure that ordnance does not fall into the hands of extremists.

The training provided by the JSOTF-P EOD team was timely, as a local police official was badly burned the previous week during an attempt at disposing of black powder.

Sharing expertise in explosive ordnance disposal is just one example of how JSOTF-P assists in building the capacity of the AFP – and other Philippines local and national government agencies through partnership – in support of its ongoing counter-terrorism effort.

At the request of the Government of the Philippines, JSOTF-P provides support to the AFP in several areas, including enhancing the AFP’s ability to provide humanitarian assistance to terrorist-inflicted communities, and through tactical training programs.