Manila: Filipino and American marine units are poised to conduct their annual joint exercises in northeast Philippines, an indication that the alliance between the two countries continue despite adverse statements issued by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Marine Capt. Ryan Lacuesta, Philippine Marine Corps public affairs director, said the joint drills under the Phiblex will be held in Zambales as well as in Tarlac provinces while a humanitarian project will be undertaken in Santa Ana in Cagayan.
The annual force readiness drills, which is now on its 33rd edition, are aimed at improving the capability of forces of either countries to operate and work with each other. Among the activities lined up are the Combined Live Fire Exercise (CALFEX), which involve missiles and artillery, which would be held at the former US military bombing and artillery range at Crow Valley in Tarlac.
Brig. Gen. John M. Jansen, commander of the US 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade that will take part in the exercise with Filipino troops, said the drills are an important aspect in military training of forces of both nations as they provide real-life conditions and scenarios.
“The opportunity to train and build mutually beneficial capabilities with our Armed Forces of the Philippines partners is essential for sharpening our bilateral amphibious and humanitarian assistance capabilities, both hallmarks of the US Marine Corps,” said Jansen.
“Exchanging expertise and cultivating our long-standing security alliance provides a cornerstone for security and stability in the region, and has for decades.”
The Philippines was a colony of the US until 1935 and the relationship evolved into a Commonwealth status in preparation for full self-governance. Following several years of interruption in relations caused by the Second World War, the US granted independence to the Philippines in 1946.
Negotiating on equal stature, both nations forged a Mutual Defence Treaty in 1951 as new geopolitical realities and the threat of communism and Soviet hegemony loomed globally.
In the face of increasingly prosperous and military strengthening of countries in Asia, China and religious fundamentalist-spawned terrorism emerged as the biggest threats to security in the region.
For this reason, the US and the Philippines maintain close security relations.
According to Jansen, Phiblex 33 will include approximately 1,400 US soldiers and sailors based in Okinawa, Japan, and 500 Philippine Armed Forces personnel.
The scenarios that the soldiers would be working side by side to combat include natural disaster and armed conflict.
The humanitarian and civic assistance portion of the exercise, beginning in September and concluding on October 12, includes engineering projects to improve local infrastructure and health.
The American naval vessels that would take part in the exercise are three Navy assault ships: USS Bonhomme Richard, the USS Green Bay and USS Germantown. These ships carry several dozen assault helicopters and anti-submarine helicopters as well as Harrier jump jets.
For the first time, the Philippines will be fielding during the exercise, the first of two brand new Strategic Sealift Vessels, the BRP Tarlac.
Earlier, Duterte said he would order the withdrawal of US forces in Mindanao as they are being targeted by Muslim extremists.
However, his Defence Secretary, Delfin Lorenzana, said the Philippines still needs US military as the country would have difficulty fighting various threats alone. “They [Americans] have surveillance capability that our military simply do not have,” Lorenzana said.
