Concerns circulated on social media after several U.S. personnel were reportedly seen arriving in Cagayan de Oro City, prompting speculation from the public amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

According to a report by Jun Dimacutac, photos and posts showing the foreign personnel quickly spread online, with some users raising questions about the purpose of their presence in the city.

In response, Michele Anayron Jr., commander of the 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, issued a public statement to clarify the situation and address public concern.

According to Anayron, the arrival of U.S. troops is part of the upcoming nationwide final phase of the annual Balikatan Exercises, a joint military training activity between Filipino and American forces.

He explained that the exercise will involve personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States Armed Forces and will be conducted at one of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in Mindanao.

One of the key locations for the activity is Lumbia Air Base, the former Lumbia Airport.

Anayron emphasized that the military activity has no connection to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. He said the joint exercises are part of regular cooperation between the Philippines and the United States and are primarily focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations.

The military official also urged the public to remain cautious about unverified information circulating on social media and encouraged people to rely on official sources for accurate updates.

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