First female artillery chief shines in Balikatan

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is beaming with pride over the performance of its first female artillery battalion commander in the just-concluded joint Balikatan Exercises with the US military.

AFP chief Gen. Benjamin Madrigal lauded Lt. Col. Lea Santiago for her accuracy in hitting distant targets during the combined joint live fire exercises held at Crow Valley in Capas, Tarlac.

“For your information the commander there is the first female battalion commander in the artillery. We saw how accurate the fire they delivered during the (live) fire exercises,” Madrigal said.

A graduate of Philippine Military Academy of Kalasag-Lahi Class 1997, Santiago, formerly Cadet Lorenza at the academy, is not a newbie to her new post.

Her assignment in Mindanao has further honed her artillery skills, a well-earned experience that she took along with her when she was designated the Army’s first female artillery battalion commander recently.

And if there is one important thing that the AFP has learned from this year’s joint exercise, women can really perform, if not surpass, their male counterparts in combat.

Meanwhile, Madrigal said China’s warning against the US in its continuing freedom of navigation operations (FONOPS) in the South China Sea is an independent action that has no effect on other states.

“Actually, we all continue to undertake our own respective independent actions out there,” Madrigal said.

He added on the part of the Philippines these undertakings – securing and guarding the country’s maritime and territorial boundaries – is being carried out with mutual respect with other forces.

However, Madrigal pointed out the AFP wants freedom of navigation in the South China Sea open and unhampered.