Amid the military’s celebration of the supposed successful conclusion of Exercise Kasangga 2026, farmers’ groups in Bicol poured out condemnation over the war games that terrorized and disrupted their livelihoods and communities.

The armed forces of the Philippines and Australia formally ended the war games in a ceremony on June 19 at Camp Elias Angeles in Pili, Camarines Sur. More than 390 troops participated. For the first time, elements from the Philippine Air Force and Philippine Navy joined to “strengthen defense and security in the Indo-Pacific region.”

From the start, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, or Philippine Peasant Movement) have been strongly opposed hostng war games by foreign troops. The group said like the earlier Salaknib 2026, Kasangga 2026 militarized and inflicted damage to farmers and fisherfolk in the towns of Pasacao, Balatan, San Fernando, Libmanan, and Ragay.

KMP secretary general Ronnie Manalo emphasized that the war games imposed “no-sail zone” policies, checkpoints, and broad restrictions on mobility that limited farmers from tending their fields and fishers from going to sea. In Barangay Balogo in Pasacao, residents were reportedly forced to evacuate their community because of live-fire exercises. They consequently lost several days of income.

Manalo said explosions and gunfire on Pasacao’s shores and high ground terrorized and disturbed residents. He said the exercises also damaged the marine ecosystem and fishing grounds in the province’s waters.

“The government boasts of the military exercises’ success while communities suffered displacement and loss of livelihood,” Manalo said. He also denounced the huge spending on the war games while the agriculture sector faces a crisis from low harvest prices, high production costs, and lack of support such as irrigation and subsidies.

KMP expressed concern over the growing military presence in Camarines Sur and similar areas. The group said the military presence is being used to protect the interests of large corporations and foreign investors in energy and ecotourism projects in the region.

According to KMP, true security for the country is measured by whether every family has enough food, livelihood security, and land that can be freely cultivated without militarization and foreign intervention. The group demanded immediate compensation for all residents whose livelihoods were affected by the military restrictions.

Beyond that, KMP called on farmers and the exploited masses to reject US war games in their communities and to continuously resist its military presence in the Philippines.