CAGAYAN DE ORO — United States troops unloaded heavy combat equipment in the city last month as part of preparations for upcoming joint military exercises, with local military and port authorities fully informed of the operation.
The equipment, including Humvees and a four-wheel-drive military truck, was offloaded from the American cargo ship USNS Seay at Macabalan Port on March 14.
A report by Stars and Stripes, a publication of the US Department of Defense, said it marked the first time the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force delivered heavy combat equipment to Mindanao for prepositioning in the southern Philippines.
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The operation required close coordination with local military units and the Philippine Ports Authority, the report added.
The Army’s 4th Infantry Division confirmed it was aware of the offloading, noting that it was conducted ahead of the 2026 Balikatan Exercises.
The drills, set this month in Luzon, involve around 10,000 troops from the United States, Australia, Japan, and the Philippines.
Col. Ricky Canatoy, assistant chief of staff for civil-military operations of the 4th Infantry Division, said the activity is covered under Article IV of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) signed in 2014, which allows US forces to preposition equipment, fuel, and other logistics.
He added that the equipment was later transported via commercial barges to Subic Bay, where it was distributed to awaiting troops.
However, the presence of US forces at Macabalan Port and Lumbia Air Base has raised concerns among some residents, who fear the city could be drawn into ongoing geopolitical tensions involving the United States.
