The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has defended the presence of U.S. military personnel at the Sanjia Steel Corp. facility in Togoloan, Misamis Oriental, saying their visit was part of a “routine scoping activity” for the upcoming annual Balikatan exercises.

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the presence of U.S. and Filipino forces at the facility was part of a routine scoping activity for Balikatan exercises, aimed at preparing allied forces for the next iteration of the annual military exercises, as reported by RH Edniel Parrosa.

The Sanjia Steel Corp. facility was raided in May following complaints over its operations and alleged activities. The property is owned by the PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority, which is under the supervision of the Department of National Defense (DND).

The facility is also located near a planned naval facility, adding to concerns over the presence of foreign military personnel in the area.

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