US PACOM chief visits Westmincom in Zamboanga City
August 24, 2017 | 12:25pm
US Navy Admiral Harry Harris, United States Pacific Command to the Philippines Commander (USPACOM), reviews the troops during welcoming ceremony at the armed forces headquarters at suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015. AP Photo/Bullit Marquez, file
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — US Navy Adm. Harry Harris, commander of the US Pacific Command (PACOM), vowed Thursday that the US willing to extend its assistance to the military against Islamic State-inspired terrorist groups in the southern Philippines.
This was expressed in a courtesy visit to the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) and close-door meeting with Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr.
Harris, along with his staff, arrived about 10:30 a.m. and was briefed on the general security situation in Mindanao by Galvez, according to Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, Westmincom, spokesperson.
During his brief visit, Galvez also presented reports on the technical assistance provided by the US in the operations against Maute group.
“The technical help provided by the US military was no secret during the initial days of the operation in Marawi,” Petinglay said.
Petinglay said Harris expressed willingness to continue helping the military here in terms of technical assistance and training on urban operations.
Philippine troops are more used to fighting in the mountains and jungles and the shift to urban warfare in Marawi City, which has been besieged by the Maute group since May, proved a challenge.
“They (US military) have fought and have wide experience in urban battle against the terrorists in the Middle East,” Petinglay said.
Petinglay said Harris and his staff left shortly after midday to return to Manila.
A statement from the US Embassy Thursday confirmed Harris also met with President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacanang, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Gen. Eduardo Año, AFP chief of staff.
The US Embassy said Harris also discussed US support to the Philippine government for ongoing efforts to end the conflict in Marawi, interoperability between the two countries' militaries, and regional threats.
“The admiral’s meetings focused on upcoming bilateral engagements, recent aid and military assistance that the US government has provided to the Philippines, as well as opportunities for additional US support in Marawi,” the US Embassy said.
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