Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ newly inaugurated forward operating base (FOB) in Batanes. Northern Luzon Command, AFP

Article (news)

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1756878273346540289449_18279628750275522_8931130628142402727_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ newly inaugurated forward operating base (FOB) in Batanes. Northern Luzon Command, AFP</div>MANILA —  The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has established a new forward operating base in Batanes, a move it said will bolster the country’s territorial defense and crisis response capabilities.The Mahatao Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Batanes, located about 150 kilometers from Taiwan, was inaugurated on August 28. The inauguration was led by AFP Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) commander Lt. Gen. Fernyl Buca.Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said the facility is designed to extend the military’s reach and sustain forces deployed in the country’s northernmost province.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/2/ph-navy-frigate-sustains-superficial-damage-in-bilateral-exercise-in-malaysia-1507">PH Navy frigate sustains &#x27;superficial damage&#x27; in bilateral exercise in Malaysia</a></div>Trinidad emphasized that the base is not directed against a specific country.The Mahatao FOB’s opening comes amid growing tension in the Taiwan Strait. Officials have warned that around 250,000 Filipinos working in Taiwan would need to be evacuated if conflict breaks out between Beijing and Taipei.China continues to claim self-governing Taiwan as part of its territory and has refused to rule out the use of force to bring the island under its control.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/28/ph-does-not-recognize-taiwan-as-sovereign-state-dfa-1056">PH does not recognize Taiwan as sovereign state: DFA</a></div>“How we develop our capabilities is in furtherance of being a sovereign state. It is not towards any other foreign country. It is to allow us to be able to perform our mandate to serve the Filipino people better,” the Navy official said.He also noted that the FOB will strengthen the military’s capability to respond to crises.“This will afford the AFP greater leverage in performing our mandate to respond to any crisis, be it man-made or natural,” Trinidad said.The official declined to say what assets will be assigned to the base.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has established a new forward operating base in Batanes, a move it said will bolster the country’s territorial defense and crisis response capabilities.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has established a new forward operating base in Batanes, a move it said will bolster the country’s territorial defense and crisis response capabilities.

Forward base in Batanes to boost AFP’s territorial defense, crisis response

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Forward base in Batanes to boost AFP’s territorial defense, crisis response

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 03, 2025 02:08 PM PHT

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Armed Forces of the Philippines

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Mahatao Forward Operating Base

Batanes

Taiwan

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