City mayors support Balikatan

The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) has thrown its full support behind President Arroyo’s decision to allow the conduct of the Balikatan military exercises between Filipino and American troops anchored on the two countries’ strong resolve to fight terrorism in all shapes and forms.

LCP president and Tagaytay City Mayor Francis Tolentino said the league’s national executive board approved a resolution of support for the Balikatan during its 11th regular meeting at the Manila Hotel last Friday.

The resolution was approved on the joint motion of Calapan City Mayor Arnan Panaligan and Batangas City Mayor Eduardo Dimacuha.

The city mayors noted that under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which was duly ratified by the Senate and whose constitutionality has been upheld by the Supreme Court, the Philippines and the United States "agreed to mutually support each other in terms of equipment, technical expertise and other forms of exchange between the two countries’ armed forces."

Tolentino said one of the forms of such mutual support is the conduct of the Balikatan exercises where Philippine and US troops jointly hone their skills and capabilities, especially in the fight against terrorism.

"The Balikatan exercises will significantly help in upgrading the skills of Filipino soldiers in fighting terrorists and other enemies of the state and will lead them to a better Armed Forces," he said.

Tolentino added that the President’s decision to enter into an agreement with the US government to conduct these exercises are within her constitutional powers as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and as chief architect of the country’s foreign relations.