By Ronron
May 23, 2007
Philippine military troops on Wednesday afternoon demonstrated to delegates of the five-day meeting of officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and dialogue partners in other parts of the world their capability to combat terrorism and respond to disasters and calamities.
Members of the Philippine Army’s Light Reaction Battalion, First Scout Ranger Regiment, Special Forces Regiment (Airborne), K9 Company, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion; the Naval Special Operations Group (NAVSOG) and Marine Reconnaissance Battalion of the Philippine Navy; and the Philippine Air Force’ (PAF) 505th Search and Rescue Group showcased their respective competence before over two dozens of delegates to the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
“This is part of the activities of the ARF and Defense Official’s Meeting which is being held at Makati Shangri-la from last May 21 until the 25th,” Philippine Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Jr. told reporters after the demonstration held at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
“This is to show to our neighbors that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is always prepared and that we have the capability to conduct counter-terrorism activities and respond to disasters and natural calamities,” he added.
The demonstration, which began at 3pm, kicked off with a simulated air assault by Scout Rangers elements on a suspected terrorist lair. It was followed by a similar counter-terrorist assault but was carried out on land.
Anti-bomb experts took their turn next in demonstrating their capability to detect suspected explosive devices using canines and defuse them with disruptors. The activity highlighted the authorities’ preparedness for this kind of incidents by pointing out the availability of a fire truck for possible fire that may result out of the defusing process, and of an ambulance for any possible casualties.
The demonstration ended with the PAF Search and Rescue Team’s display of its capability to airlift a disaster or calamity victim.
“(It’s a) very impressive demonstration to counter terrorism,” Japanese Navy Captain Tokuetso Ishibashi from Japan’s Ministry of Defense Joint Staff Office said after the activity.
“I understand the Philippines faces, experiences severe problem especially in the southern part of the Philippines. So, this kind of demonstration enhances mutual understanding among ARF countries,” added Ishibashi, who was among the AFP delegates treated to the capability demonstration.
Asked if he thinks the Philippines has some problems in terms with equipment or armament, Ishibashi said: “I have no comment about it because I have no comment about the capability of the Philippine Armed Forces. But it’s a very good and very effective demonstration.”
Torres admitted the Philippines “lack some equipment,” but he said the country makes up for it through “intelligence and information” that it shares with neighboring countries.
The ARF is the primary multilateral political and security body in the Asia Pacific region established in 1994, Torres said. It is comprised of the 10 ASEAN Member States (Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam); 10 ASEAN Dialogue Partners (Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia, and the United States); one ASEAN observer; and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan and East Timor.
“The ARF meeting being conducted at various leadership levels in different member countries every year aims to foster constructive dialogue and consultation on political and security issues of common interest and concern,” Torres said./DMS
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