PH eyes sending troops for 2020 International Army Games in Russia

Photo from Amb. Carlos Sorreta’s Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Army is looking into the possibility of sending a delegation for next year’s International Games in Russia.

Manila ambassador to Moscow Carlos Sorreta said the Philippine Army sent a team led by its Vice Commander, Maj. Gen. Reynaldo Aquino, to observe this year’s event held in August.

“The Philippine Army team assessed the potential of sending a delegation to participate in the 2020 International Army Games, taking into consideration the vehicles and equipment used, as well as the applicability of the skills needed in the games in the Philippine setting,” he said in a Facebook post on Monday.

The Army representatives observed the following games: Tank Biathlon and True Friend (Dog Handlers Competition) at the Patriot Park in Kubinka, Moscow Oblast; Emergency Rescue Response at the Joint Regional Training Center in Sergiev Posad, Moscow Oblast; and the Engineering Formula and Safe Route competitions at the Higher Military Engineering Command School in Tyumen.

“The participation of the Philippine Army in the games next year will not only test the combat readiness of the engineering units of the Philippine Army, but will also help promote camaraderie with members of armies of other participant-countries”, Sorreta said.

In 2018, the Philippines joined the International Army Games for the first time by sending some of its snipers for the shooting category.

The International Army Games is a military sports event hosted by the Ministry of Defense of Russia that involves dozens of countries.

For this year, more than 200 teams from 25 countries joined various competitions and displayed their skills using more than a thousand military assets. /kga