6,000 US troops to take part in annual Balikatan

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 controversial Visiting 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