RP, US military forces set exercises next month

By Ronron
January 29, 2008

Military forces of the Philippines and the United States will hold the yearly Balikatan exercises next month until March in various areas of the country, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said Monday night.

Esperon told the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) in Camp Aguinaldo that the large-scale exercise will be held from February 18 until March 3 in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Basilan, Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat, and Midsayap town in North Cotabato.

He said the US will send in at least 5,000 personnel while the Philippine contingent will have about 2,000 forces.

“The Balikatan is just one of close to 200 activities authorized by the Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board year round. The others are table-top exercises, field exercises, civic actions and exchange of visits,” Esperon said.

“We hope to have the opening here in Camp Aguinaldo. Then, we will go to the other areas,” he added.

Esperon said Marawi City, Tacurong City and Midsayap were included in this year’s Balikatan exercises venue because they need “some development programs” like medical and engineering civic activities.

The said areas are first-time venues for the Balikatan.

The first RP-US Balikatan exercise was held in 1991, although it went large-scale in 2001 and onwards.

This year’s Balikatan exercises would be the 24th./DMS