Ship in shoal standoff joins war games

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines—A Philippine ship involved in the standoff over the disputed Scarborough Shoal is joining the nine-day naval exercises between the Philippines and United States in several Mindanao areas.

The pullout of BRP Pampanga, however, is not related to the dispute, according to Commodore Philip Cacayan, head of the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao Command.

Cacayan said the participation of BRP Pampanga in the naval exercises was a coincidence and not meant to fuel tension with China.

“It’s not being done because of the Scarborough incident,” said the commodore.

In a statement issued Tuesday by the US Embassy, Ambassador Harry Thomas reiterated his government’s position of neutrality on the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China.

“We call for a collaborative process, deescalation, as well as a peaceful resolution. We expect this will be resolved soon,” the statement quoted Thomas as saying.

Mohagher Iqbal, chief negotiator for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front which claimed it had shot down a US drone at the height of the conflict in Maguindanao three years ago, said guerrillas were not opposed to the war games.

“Actually that’s internal to the Philippine government. As long as it will not pose a threat and problem to the people, we will not object to it,” he told the Inquirer by phone.

The exercises involve 450 members of the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard, and 500 staff members of the US Navy and Coast Guard.

It also includes a humanitarian mission that will bring medical and dental services to this city and Glan in Sarangani province.

The US Navy is expected to teach Filipino soldiers antiterrorism tactics that would require night combat.

Officials, however, said American soldiers taking part in the exercises, dubbed Carat 2012, will not be allowed to go out for rest and recreation.

“This is to avoid issues that may affect the conduct of this kind of exercise. But the primary reason is security,” Philippine Navy Capt. Robert Empedrad, the exercise director, said in a press briefing yesterday. Jeoffrey Maitem and Aquiles Z. Zonio, Inquirer Mindanao