US military will respond ‘in a matter of hours’ to any threat on PHL sovereignty

From Ang Malaya (Oct 1): US military will respond ‘in a matter of hours’ to any threat on PHL sovereignty

Should the Philippines sovereignty be challenged or threatened by any power, the US military is more than prepared to respond “in a matter of hours.” This was stressed by US 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Paul Kennedy during the opening ceremonies of 32nd Philippine Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX 16) at Marine Barracks Rudiardo Brown, Naval Station Bonifacio, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Thursday.

“Sixty-four years, this alliance (has) held, our mutual security has been upheld to the close working relationship that we have forged in that time, and I would tell anybody, I would tell you that if anybody would challenge the sovereignty of this country, their best friends within this region would respond within a matter of hours and generally I assure you that is not a hollow promise,” he added.

Kennedy stressed that the nine-day PHIBLEX 16, which has a modest budget and prepared within a minimum time, will accomplish more than what the US 3rd Marine Expedition Brigade participated throughout the region.

“Not only will we work on a higher end of the range of military operations, we’re doing staff exercises down in Palawan, we’ll be honing our interoperability and our procedures in getting to know each other should we be called upon to operate as a military force, but likewise we’re participating in humanitarian activities, there are joint combined engineering projects taking place down in Palawan that I think really are the highlight of this exercise,” he added.

“It’s an opportunity for marines and sailors of both the United States and the Philippine Armed Forces to interact with their people and when you inspire confidence in the people that those under right are way of, our vocation, our way of existence, that you truly have won their hearts and minds and I think that will be accomplished,” Kennedy stressed.

http://www.angmalaya.net/nation/2015/10/01/13753-us-military-will-respond-in-a-matter-of-hours-to-any-threat-on-phl-sovereignty