THE 12-day “Balikatan” war games between Filipino and American troops started yesterday, the largest joint exercises to be held in seven years, highlighting improved defense ties between the Philippines and the United States amid President Duterte’s pursuit of warmer ties with China.
Some 8,900 soldiers formally opened the military exercise at the AFP general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, which included 5,100 Americans and 3,800 Filipinos.
The exercise will be held in various military sites in Luzon, including in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija; Colonel Ernesto Rabina Air Base in Capas, Tarlac; Clark Air Base in Angeles City, Pampanga; and Claveria in Cagayan.
The last reported Balikatan drill with the most number of participants was held in 2015, with 11,500 American and Filipino soldiers taking part.
This year’s joint exercise is the last to be held under the administration of President Duterte, who has criticized the US government on numerous occasions during his term and has event sought to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between Manila and Washington.
The first Balikatan exercise conducted during the Duterte administration in 2017 involved 5,500 troops, while the 2018 and 2019 Balikatan exercises were participated in by around 8,000 and 7,5000 troops, respectively.
The scheduled Balikatan exercise in 2020 was cancelled due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. It resumed last year but was only limited to around 600 soldier-participants on both sides.
Armed Forces chief Gen. Andre Centino cited the importance of the Balikatan exercise, adding US and Filipino soldiers need to train together to address any situation in the Indo-Pacific region.
The US and the Philippine have a standing Mutual Defense Treaty that requires the two sides to respond to any armed attack in any metropolitan territories of either of the parties or on their island territories, or on armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific.
Centino said security in the region is a “shared responsibility.”
“We (AFP) cannot just plan or defend by ourselves or train by ourselves. It’s important that we continue to engage with our allies. Again, as I was saying this is a shared responsibility, I mean the security of our country, the security of our region is a shared responsibility,” said Centino.
In a message read by DND undersecretary Cardozo Luna, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the trainings in this year’s Balikatan exercise are intended to improve the interoperability of US and Filipino forces “so that we can readily and jointly respond to our mutual security concerns and contribute to regional peace and stability.”
“As one of the premier military exercises in the region, it will feature a range of training activities covering traditional and non-traditional security concerns including counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster response capability, and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives,” added Lorenzana.
Lorenzana said the Balikatan exercises “affirm that the US and the Philippines are not alone in espousing peace, security and cooperation in the region,” noting that they have been “expanding the scope of the exercises through wider engagement and networking with our partners in the region.”
Lorenzana said 40 troops from the Australian Defense Force will be joining the Balikatan exercise as observers. This, he said, “is no surprise as Australia has always been a partner of both of the Philippines and the United States.”
Maj. Gen. Jay Bargeron, the Balikatan exercise director on the US side, said the exercise is not meant as a show of force in the region.
“No, not at all. Balikatan (20)22 is a tremendous training opportunity and it’s aimed at improving our security and defensive capabilities and our readiness to respond to any crisis anywhere.”
Bargeron said the Balikatan exercise is “designed to enhance our interoperability, strengthen cooperation” of the US and Philippine armed forces and “to contribute of course to peace and stability in the region.”
AFP Northern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Ernesto Torres Jr. assured the protection of troops taking part in the training activities in northern Luzon.
“We assure you, the public and the participants, that Northern Luzon Command will do all of its best for us to have a very successful 37th iteration of Balikatan this year,” said Torres.
The Army’s 1st Brigade Combat Team which recently took part in a jungle operations training with US forces, dubbed Salaknib, will also be participating in the Balikatan exercise, said Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.
“Our Brigade Combat Team is a new concept that we are trying to develop. It was patterned after the Brigade Combat Teams of the United States Armed Forces. With this combat team, we are envisioning a ready combat unit that can be deployed anywhere in the country in case of any threats coming from outside our country,” said Brawner.
DONATIONS
The United States government has donated $630, 000 (P31.5) million worth of equipment to boost the country’s maritime law enforcement operations, according to US Embassy in Manila Charg锯d’ Affaires Heather”¯Variava.
Variava led the ceremonial turnover of outboard motors that were delivered and installed on six Philippine National Police-Maritime Group (PNP-MG) patrol boats belonging to its Special Operations Units in Honda Bay in Palawan and Bongao, Tawi Tawi last March 25.
The embassy said 18 motors were donated, of which 12 were used to restore the operational status of six boats, while six are spare engines.
Four of the engines were installed on two boats operated by the 2nd Special Operations Unit in Honda Bay, the embassy said.
“The U.S. government is committed to supporting the 2nd Special Operations Unit as well as our other partners in Palawan who share our interest to enhance security, economic prosperity, and environmental conservation in this amazing province,” Variava said during the turnover ceremony.
In her trip to Puerto Princesa City, Variava also visited the headquarters of both the AFP’s Western Command and Coast Guard District Palawan to discuss operational priorities and opportunities for cooperation.
The Western Command exercises jurisdiction over the West Philippine Sea and the Kalayaan Group of Islands.
The donation was made possible through the Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and the Global Security Contingency Fund.
The INL, along with the US Department of Defense, have been close partners with the PNP-MG for over a decade already. They collaborated on the creation of the Special Operations Units though facility, equipment, and training support programs.
The INL according to the embassy also supported the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) and the Clean Cities, Blue Oceans (CCBO) project through environmental justice programs, which include the handover of $16,500 (P825, 000) in rescue and storage equipment also on March 25.
Aside from the outboard motors, Variava also led the turnover of eight waste collection vehicles worth $10,000 (P500, 000) to Puerto Princesa’s Eco Warriors who will utilize the equipment. — With Ashzel Hachero
