3 provinces offer to host ‘Balikatan’

The provinces of Zambales, Bataan and Pampanga have offered to host the Balikatan 03-1 joint anti-terrorist training exercises between American and Filipino soldiers, following Sulu’s refusal to be the venue of these exercises.

President Arroyo welcomed these latest offers yesterday, as it was formally relayed to her during a meeting with local government officials from Central and Southern Luzon and Metro Manila.

The President received the formal offer from Zambales Gov. Vicente Magsaysay, who was acting as the head of the Central Luzon Regional Peace and Order Council.

"We hear and read in newspapers that some provinces don’t want Balikatan exercises. Why don’t you bring the exercises to Bataan, Zambales and Pampanga?" Maysaysay asked the President.

She replied, "Sulu does not want it but everyone wants it!"

Mrs. Arroyo earlier said that because of Sulu’s objection to being the venue of the exercises, the Department of Defense and the Armed Forces were now evaluating which among the applicant provinces and cities would host the Balikatan.

Magsaysay informed the President that these three Central Luzon provinces welcome the Balikatan exercises, saying that residents have become familiar with the presence of US troops since they hosted American military facilities for almost 40 years. – Marichu Villanueva