6,000 US troops to take part in annual Balikatan

03/09/2011 | 09:51 PM

At least 6,000 American troops will be coming to the country to participate in the
annual Balikatan joint military exercises, which include a planning exercise in a
military zone that includes the disputed Spratly Islands.

Maj. Enrico Gil Ileto, public affairs officer of the Balikatan exercises for the
Philippine side, said the US forces will be joining some 2,000 Filipino troops for
the 10-day series of exercises scheduled to start on April 15.

The exercises include a “unilateral planning exercise" at the headquarters of the

Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Western Command (WESCOM) in
Puerto Princesa, Palawan’s capital city.

Ileto clarified that US soldiers will only be observing the activity. “The Americans
are not supposed to have a participation in the planning," he said, adding
however that US military officials may proceed to the WESCOM headquarters to
observe the planning.

The WESCOM is in charge of protecting the Philippines’ interest in the Spratly

Islands, a group of islands believed to be rich in mineral and oil deposits, and
which is being claimed as well by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia.

The Philippines recently filed a diplomatic protest against China after Chinese
Navy patrol boats reportedly harassed a Philippine-sanctioned oil exploration
vessel at the Reed Bank area to the west of Palawan. (See: PHL asks China to
clarify 'presence' near Palawan)

So far, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has not announced
any official response by China to the complaint. (See: Malacañang mum on
China 'snub' of diplomatic protest)

Planning for PHL soldiers only

Ileto said that in the Palawan planning exercise, only Filipino soldiers will take
part in planning for an imagined threat.

He also maintained the Balikatan exercises are only aimed at improving the
interoperability of the US and Philippine militaries.

Most of the US participants will be coming from the US Army Pacific, although
there will also be US Navy and US Marine contingents, according to Ileto, while
the 2,000 Filipino troops will come from the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
On the other hand, the combined or bilateral staff exercises will be held at the
headquarters of the AFP’s Northern Luzon Command in Tarlac City.

Field training exercises will be held in various training sites such as:

Fort Magsaysay, the headquarters of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division and Special
Operations Command in Nueva Ecija;

Basa Air Base and Clark Air Base, both in Pampanga;

Crow Valley Range in Tarlac;

Naval Station L. Gantioqui in Zambales;

Sangley Point in Cavite City;

Marine Base Ternate in Cavite; and

Mactan Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City.

Humanitarian missions will also be conducted by the US and Philippine troops

under Balikatan, with Tarlac and Zambales communities as supposed
beneficiaries.

“The conduct of Balikatan 2011 allows a long and lasting partnership, founded
firmly on common heritage, between two freedom-loving countries committed to
the preservation of liberty and democracy," new AFP chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo
Oban said.

“The Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the US have a long-time
relationship of working together. This partnership includes a 58-year mutual
defense treaty, showcasing a long bilateral partnership in Philippine history,"
Oban added.

Controversial VFA

The annual Balikatan program of joint military exercises is part of the

controversialVisiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the
US, which governs the conduct, exit and entry movements of American troops
visiting the Philippines for military exercises.

The VFA was ratified by the Philippine Senate on May 27, 1999, but the US
Senate has yet to do the same as the US does not consider it a treaty.

Several legislators and militant groups, such as Bagong Alyansang Makabayan,

have questioned the legality of the VFA on various grounds, such as the alleged
involvement of US soldiers in actual combat, the reported abuses committed by
US soldiers, and a provision in the 1987 Constitution that prohibits the basing of
foreign troops and military facilities in Philippine territory. (See: Miriam wants
Congress to terminate RP-US VFA)

Early last year, however, the Supreme Court ruled that the controversial
agreement is constitutional. (See: SC: VFA constitutional, US soldiers can stay
on RP soil)—With Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMA News