On March 11, 2026, Rob Rances shared a screenshot of a post in Cebuano by Facebook user Johnny Estenor Tatoy about the arrival of US troops in Cagayan de Oro City. The post, alarmed with exclamation points and question marks, claimed the troops were in the Philippines due to the ongoing conflict in Iran. However, this claim is misleading, as the troops’ visit was pre-scheduled under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) for humanitarian and disaster relief training. MindaNews fact-checked the post, which had garnered significant engagement, with Rances’ repost receiving 713 shares, 402 comments, and 1,800 reactions by March 20. Tatoy’s edited version drew 1,100 reactions, 1,000 comments, and 8,100 shares. Contrary to Tatoy’s claim, the photos showed US soldiers in civilian clothes without weapons, and their presence was unrelated to Middle East conflicts or the West Philippine Sea dispute. Colonel Anselmo Ty and Maj. Gen. Michele Anayron clarified that the troops were in Cagayan de Oro temporarily for training. Lumbia Air Base is one of five EDCA sites established in 2016, alongside Basa Air Base, Fort Magsaysay, Antonio Bautista Air Base, and Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base. In February 2023, four additional EDCA sites were announced to enhance humanitarian and disaster response efforts.
