THE PHILIPPINE and Australian armies held joint combat exercises in the southern Philippines last week, bolstering military cooperation between the nations as tensions persist in the contested South China Sea.

In a statement, the Philippine Army said it conducted “practical combat” drills alongside their Australian counterparts in Bukidnon province to help foster interoperability in urban and rural warfare, including tactical maneuvers under “high-stress conditions.”

“Philippine Army troops and their Australian counterparts focused on the real-time evaluation of their interoperability, operational readiness and tactical capabilities in conducting the said drills,” it said on Monday.

“Training contingents also sharpened their combat skills by conducting small-unit maneuvers, counter-ambush drills and tactical coordination in both urban and rural settings to assess their adaptability and unit cohesion,” it added.

The combat drills are part of the broader Exercise Kasangga — Filipino for ally — that would see Filipino and Australian troops rehearse in war-like conditions amid regional security concerns due to China’s increasing assertiveness in the contested South China Sea and beyond.

Manila is seeking to expand its security ties with other western countries and regional allies as it counters Beijing’s sweeping claims over the disputed waterway that overlap with the Southeast Asian nation’s exclusive economic zone.

China claims more than 80% of the South China Sea based on a 1940s map, which a United Nations-backed arbitration court in The Hague voided in 2016 for being illegal.

Australia has also grappled with China’s naval presence near its waters. The People’s Liberation Army Navy earlier this year conducted live-fire drills in international waters within the Tasman Sea, more than 8,000 kilometers away from Hainan Island, China’s nearest major landmass, which separates Australia and New Zealand.

Filipino and Australian soldiers also performed combat casualty care simulations during the drills, helping their forces develop expertise in first-aid operations in warfighting situations.

“Training participants also conducted a series of practical medical exercises such as battlefield triage and casualty evacuation under fire and treatment of critical injuries,” the Philippine Army said.

Also last week, the Philippines’ top security adviser met with a US Congress delegation in Quezon City, where they highlighted the need to foster deeper security ties amid regional challenges.

National Security Adviser Eduardo M. Año talked with the US delegation led by Michigan Rep. John R. Moolenaar, reaffirming their commitments to work together in advancing their countries’ mutual interests in the Indo-Pacific region, the National Security Council said.

“The US delegation expressed continued support for the Philippines’ efforts in safeguarding sovereignty and upholding a rules-based international order,” it said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

The Philippines and US maintain a decades-old alliance buoyed by a mutual defense treaty and strong economic ties, and both countries have sought to strengthen security cooperation and enhance force interoperability in response to China’s growing assertiveness in the region. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

A COALITION of civil society groups urged the Senate on Tuesday to promptly begin the impeachment trial of Vice-President (VP) Sara Duterte-Carpio, citing concerns over repeated delays in the proceedings.

“We… express great alarm over recent delays in the impeachment proceedings of Vice-President Sara Duterte,” the group, which consists of priests, academics and youth leaders, said in a statement.

Senate President Francis Joseph “Chiz” G. Escudero last week deferred the scheduled presentation of charges against Ms. Duterte to June 11 from June 2, citing the need for the chamber to prioritize pending bills and act on presidential appointments.

Mr. Escudero added that it would also be up to the Senate plenary to decide on the schedule of the VP’s impeachment trial.

“Is he afraid of Sara Duterte?” Party-list Rep. Percival V. Cendaña said in a separate statement, warning the Senate chief that his “continued delay” in convening the impeachment court could be tantamount to betraying the chamber’s constitutional mandate.

“This is not Paris Fashion Week,” he said in mixed English and Filipino. “Convening the Senate as an impeachment court is a solemn constitutional duty, not a seasonal accessory you put on or discard depending on the political weather or one’s personal agenda.”

A verified impeachment complaint endorsed by the House of Representatives will serve as official charges against an impeachable official, according to the 1987 Constitution, requiring the Senate to convene “forthwith” and begin trial.

“It would be a great disservice to the nation if the impeachment trial will not proceed as mandated under the Constitution, despite the overwhelming evidence presented against the Vice-President,” the group said.

The Senate President said he will adhere to what is right under the law, regardless whom it favors or undermines.

“And that kind of comment clearly comes from a camp opposed to VP Sara and is in favor of her impeachment. Let them carry their opinion and perspectives,” he told reporters in Filipino.

“As the Senate President, it is my duty to keep things fair, just, and in accordance with the law.”

The House impeached the Vice-President on Feb. 5, alleging secret fund misuse, unexplained wealth, acts of destabilization and plotting the assassination of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., his family, and the Speaker of the House. Ms. Duterte has denied any wrongdoing.

“The impeachment trial has been effectively delayed for about 4 months now and risks further delay and legal uncertainties,” the group said. “The delays go against the Constitutional provision that the Senate trial shall commence ‘forthwith.’”

Mr. Cendaña said the impeachment trial could still be held in the 20^th Congress, which would convene in mid-July. “The impeachment process is a constitutional mandate, not a legislative bill that expires at the stroke of midnight.”

“Once the House transmitted the Articles of Impeachment, the Senate is constitutionally bound to convene as an impeachment court — no ifs, no buts,” he added.

Senate Majority Leader Francis N. Tolentino earlier said the impeachment case is “functionally dismissed,” arguing the 20^th Congress cannot take any action because its jurisdiction is within the 19^th Congress.

Meanwhile, nine of 10 Filipinos believe that Ms. Duterte should face the impeachment charges against her, according to a WR Numero Research poll in April, with half of all respondents saying that Senators should base their decision on the evidence that would be presented.

“When asked about the trial’s potential outcome, the public is divided,” the pollster said in a Tuesday statement.

One in three Filipinos said Ms. Duterte should be convicted on charges ranging from misuse of alleged secret funds and plotting the assassination of the President. About 23% said she should be acquitted, with the remaining 43% unsure about how the Senate should rule on the trial. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio