Japan Army chief visits AFP’s largest military camp

PHOTO: Japanese Army chief Gen. Koji Yamazaki at the Philippine Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. / OACPA

MANILA, Philippines — Japanese Army chief Gen. Koji Yamazaki visited Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, the largest military installation in the Philippines, as part of his four-day visit.

Yamazaki, chief of staff of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, was welcomed with arrival honors on Wednesday by 7th Infantry Division (7ID) commander Brig. Gen. Lenard Agustin, said 7ID public affairs office chief Cpt. Catherine Hapin.

Fort Magsaysay is also one of the largest military facilities in Asia, which is administrated by 7ID. It also houses the Special Operations Command, Light Reaction Regiment, Army Artillery Regiment, Army Aviation Battalion, Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) and the Maneuver Center of the Training and Doctrine Command.

Yamazaki also visited the Philippine Marine Corps headquarters at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City as part of his visit.

Cpt. Felix Serapio, chief public affairs officer of the Philippine Marines, said the meeting between with Yamazaki and Marine Commandant Maj. Gen. Alvin Parreno tackled possible future training activities that would address non-traditional security threats like humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

Earlier, Yamazaki also met his Philippine counterpart Army chief Lt. Gen. Macairog Alberto, to boost the strategic partnership of the two countries.

“Both armies can learn from each other’s experiences in terms of counter-terrorism and humanitarian assistance and disaster response through the conduct of training exchanges. We will continue the cooperation with renewed vigor in order to better tackle the various security challenges that both our countries are facing” Alberto said.  /muf