War games with US to boost AFP morale

Senate President Blas Ople said yesterday the first joint military exercises between Philippine and US troops under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) will strengthen the morale of the military in defending the national territory.

"We need these exercises to tone up our troops and inject them with new technology and martial doctrines and tactics that will give our Armed Forces a jump start," Ople said.

The VFA, which was ratified by the Philippine Senate last May 27, has paved the way for the resumption of RP-US military ties.

The Philippines and the US are set to begin tomorrow "Balikatan 2000," the military exercises aimed at bolstering their capability to deal with regional security crises.

The exercises will be held in various sites nationwide, including the former US military bases in Clark and Subic and the provinces of Cavite and Palawan.

Aside from amphibious landings and live-fire exercises, the troops will also participate in medical and dental operations as well as in the construction of school buildings and artesian wells.

The launching of the war games the other day also saw the delivery of 300 M-35 military trucks by the US to the Philippines.

Several of the trucks were already shipped straight to East Timor for use of the United Nations peacekeeping force led by Lt. Gen. Jaime de los Santos.

A coast guard cutter is also expected to arrive in the Philippines as part of the continuing US military assistance under the excess defense articles program.

Ople likewise warned the New People's Army that any attack on US troops will be met with an appropriate response from the Philippine military.

Left-wing groups vowed to hound the war games with protest rallies. Communist guerrillas had earlier issued threats that the visiting troops were "legitimate targets" for attack.

He also pointed out that the "no liquor" policy imposed on US soldiers participating in the seven-day exercises will greatly minimize any untoward incidents.

Meanwhile, plainclothes policemen have been deployed at strategic places in the cities of Angeles and Olongapo to beef up security for the arriving US troops.

Central Luzon police director Chief Superintendent Roberto Calinisan said he has already instructed the police chiefs of the two cities to provide maximum protection to the troops involved in the military exercises.

"I issued the directive following reports of communist rebels are planning an assassination mission against the servicemen," Calinisan said.

In a related development, a top official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) disclosed yesterday plans for holding trilateral exercises with the US and Australia.

Maj. Gen. Felix Dueñas, AFP deputy chief of staff for plans and programs, said the three countries are planning the trilateral military exercises, although the plans "have yet to be operationalized and applied in an actual situation."

"But should the call for this arrangement be made in any disaster situation, the trilateral group is ready," Dueñas said.