Manila, May 1 -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will be setting up its so-called "Strategic Defense Command" which would supervise military exercises with foreign countries.

In an interview with reporters late Wednesday night, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said this unit is expected to be operational by this year.

"We're looking at creating this within the year. Wala pa tayong (we still do have an) actual timeline (for) this because it will go through the normal process," she added.

Padilla said the creation of the "Strategic Defense Command" was deemed necessary as the AFP's training exercises with foreign countries have been growing larger by the year.

An example of this is the annual "Balikatan" and "Sa...