FACT CHECK: Filipino soldiers have come near Typhon missile system, contrary to claims

The post was reacting to reports of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “offering” to return the US missile system if China drops its claims over the West Philippine Sea. It says about the Typhon missile system: “Wala nga ni isang sundalong Pilipino ang nakakalapit diyan sa missile rocket launcher na iyan.” 

(Not even one Filipino soldier has come near that missile rocket launcher.)

As of writing, the post has around 1,400 reactions, 281 comments, and 106 shares. 

The facts: Filipino soldiers have undergone training and familiarization exercises with the Typhon missile system during the Salaknib exercises held in 2024 with American soldiers.

The Defense Visual Information Distribution Service of the US Department of Defense shows pictures of Filipino soldiers alongside American soldiers. One such set of nine pictures dated June 27, 2024, titled “U.S.-Philippine Army Bilateral Mid-Range Capability Subject Matter Expert Exchange” was taken in Laoag, Ilocos Norte during the Salaknib exercises. 

The Typhon missile system was previously deployed to Northern Luzon on April 11, 2024, in preparation for the Salaknib exercises intended to enhance the capacity and interoperability of the Philippine and the US armies. The missile system has since stayed in the Philippines as of the time of writing.

On the Typhon missile system in 2025: Filipino soldiers will be training on the Typhon missile system this February; the launchers are now in an undisclosed location.  

China has condemned the presence of the Typhon missile system in the Philippines, saying it “undermines regional peace and stability.” The US, meanwhile, has already said at least once, in September 2024, that they did not plan to withdraw the missile system from the Philippines back then, in response to demands from China to do so.

As for military exercises between the Philippines and US, both the Philippines and US have already said that they are not directed towards another country such as China.

China claims nearly the whole South China Sea; disputes between Philippines and China about these claims, leading to Chinese harassment of Philippine ships, have continued up to the present. A recent case of China’s aggressive behavior in the region was on January 24, which led to the suspension of a Bureau of Fisheries scientific survey.

On January 30, Marcos reacted to China’s calls to remove the missile system in the country: “Let’s make a deal with China. Stop claiming our territory, stop harassing our fishermen and let them have a living, stop ramming our boats, stop water cannoning our people, stop firing lasers at us, and stop your aggressive and coercive behavior, and I’ll return the Typhon missiles.”

Previous related fact-checks: Rappler has fact-checked several military-related claims before, such as those pertaining to Philippines-China relations and the related events happening in the region, especially in the West Philippine Sea.

On Jay Sonza: Rappler has also fact-checked several claims by Sonza since 2018. Sonza has been recently invited to attend a congressional hearing regarding fake news and disinformation on Tuesday, February 4; he was absent. – Percival Bueser/ Rappler.com 

Percival Bueser is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

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