Manila, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines has banned the media from covering field exercises for the Balikatan exercises between the Philippines and the United States this year.
“That was the mutual agreement,” a military official said Monday.
Last week, the Armed Forces announced in an email advisory that media coverage for the combined arms live fire exercises at Col. Ernesto Ravina Air Base in Capas, Tarlac on May 15 has been canceled.
“This is part of the advise that we have received from the higher authorities in charge of the BK Exercises,” the advisory read.
Media coverage for the amphibious landing exercise in Zambales on May 9 has also been canceled.
Only the opening and closing ceremonies of the joint military exercises will be open to the media.
The military is yet to comment on the cancellation of media coverage.