MANILA, April 10 -- The conduct of future multilateral maritime drills between the Philippines and its allies will depend on the approval of the governments of these nations, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Wednesday.

"Conducting MMCA (multilateral maritime cooperative activity) with allied countries in the coming days is feasible, provided that all parties approve them at the ministerial level and in alignment with the international rules-based orders and international law," AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said in a message to reporters.

Ministerial level refers to the approval of the defense establishments of the allied countries looking to participate in the MMCA.

Padilla said they are deferring to the...