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Both the Philippines and the United States have decided to use this year's Balikatan exercises for humanitarian missions, instead of training soldiers in traditional "war games," Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Restituto Padilla said on Thursday.
Padilla — during an Air Force symposium in Shangri La at the Fort — told reporters that this was part of the two countries' decision to scale back military drills or "live fire exercises" in response to President Rodrigo Duterte's disdain for their longstanding defense alliance.
"Ngayon ay magre-reduce dahil ifo-focus natin yung mga kakayahan ng mga puwersa natin na siyang nangunguna pag nagkaroon ng mga bagyo," he said, without revealing by how much the number of troops to be sent to the Balikatan will be slashed.
Padilla explained that the annual bilateral exercises with the US have taken on a new focus, which is humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.
"Balikatan has undertaken a new phase which is more concentrated on expected events," Padilla said.
"These are threats that come from weather disturbances, hazards, so this is the reason why a refocusing of Balikatan has been shifted to humanitarian assistance, disaster response, and counter terrorism. These are the issues of the day that need action," he added.
He denied that the scaling down of the Balikatan exercises was meant to downplay the Philippines' ties with US.
"Hindi naman nangangahulugan na isinangtabi na natin ang ating alyansa," he said.
Like the Philippines, the US has also reduced the troops participating in the military exercises after the shift in focus.
"Similarly as we have reduced, they [the US troops] have also reduced because they will only put in the necessary personnel who will be involved in the areas that we have focused in this year," Padilla said.
Shortly after assuming the presidency, President Rodrigo Duterte said he wanted to end the Philippines' joint military exercises with the US.... (END OF REPORT)
"Shortly after assuming the presidency,
President Rodrigo Duterte said he wanted to
end the Philippines' joint military exercises with the US"
The reasons why the 2017 WAR GAMES known as the Balikatan exercises (Shoulder to Shoulder exercises) were almost completely postponed, was because of the dis-approval of the Chief-Executive President Duterte about such war games, in fear that it might "provoke China", and according to this administration the end goal of the war games might start "trouble" or a "war", that is not true, the purpose of the Balikatan exercises (Shoulder to Shoulder exercises) is to prepare the Philippines from any threat may it be against terrorists, local-insurgents, or foreign threats.
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| US Armed Forces, DWIZ Mas Todong Lakas |
While the US Armed Forces also train and educate members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on how to operate and use advance and modern weapons and equipment that is not yet available in the inventory of the armed forces, members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on the other hand train US Armed Forces on how to survive in the jungle, informational and educational training and exercises about jungle warfare, guerrilla warfare, etc, both share information that might benefit the interests of the parties involved.
Japan, and Australia are both observers to the annual Balikatan exercises (Shoulder to Shoulder exercises), Japan announced that it is interested to join in the war games, along with the armed forces of USA, Philippines, and Japan it might have been an amazing show of force, but unfortunately the present administration is "fun at parties"
During the Balikatan exercises (Shoulder to Shoulder exercises) the Armed Forces of the Philippines could also show case their new assets, where they could use and test them in actual combat simulation, along with our allies.
Last Balikatan exercises (Shoulder to Shoulder exercises) the US Armed Forces trained pilots of the Philippine Air Force on interception, beach head assault and landing, and how to invade a island that is already occupied by enemy forces the US Armed Forces even brought in M777 howitzers, MLRS, P-8, P-3C, jet fighters, attack helicopters (like the Cobra) warships, etc, is that a bad thing? The persons and organizations that would oppose such activities (as always) are members of the left, socialist-communist groups (like the CPP-NPA-NDF and Bayan Muna), and the like.
Not only that on every Balikatan exercises (Shoulder to Shoulder exercises), US and Philippine forces also conduct community service by building schools, roads, health programs, etc to the local communities where the annual Balikatan exercises (Shoulder to Shoulder exercises) is held.
The stand, and decision of the present administration against the Balikatan exercises (Shoulder to Shoulder exercises) is very disappointing. .
Source: gmanetwork.com
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