Balikatan starts Monday
Video by INQUIRER.net’s Ryan Leagogo
MANILA, Philippines—Let the war games begin.
A week after US President Barack Obama’s visit, some 2,500 American troops will participate in the annual military exercises dubbed Balikatan starting Monday.
About 3,000 Filipino soldiers are joining the games, according to Lt. Col Ramon Zagala, Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs office chief.
Zagala said the holding of the Balikatan was “not related to any current situation.”
In this Sept. 20, 2013 file photo, Filipino Marines and US Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit BOXER Amphibious Ready Group based in Okinawa, Japan drop from a CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter during a joint military exercise called Philippines-US Amphibious Landing Exercise in Ternate, Cavite province A week after US President Barack Obama’s visit, some 2,500 American troops will participate in the annual military exercises dubbed Balikatan starting Monday, May 6, 2014. AP PHOTO/AARON FAVILA
“The focus of the exercises is to improve tactical-level military proficiency to enhance the Philippine-US cooperation through humanitarian and civic assistance,” he said.
“The experience gained in Balikatan complements our security operations and enhances the AFP counterterrorism programs,” he added.
Zagala said the bilateral training would focus on maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster response and civic assistance.
He said this year’s training was “structured to further develop the AFP in crisis-action planning, enhancing its ability to effectively conduct counterterrorism operations and promote interoperability” with its American counterpart.
Field training exercises are to be held at Clark Air Base in Pampanga, Crow Valley in Tarlac and Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.
Military medical personnel from the two countries will also offer free medical, dental and veterinary care in Legazpi City.
Zagala said military engineers would build and repair schools and other infrastructure in Bicol, a hotbed of communist insurgency.
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