FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija -- Authorities
have tightened security measures in this camp as hundreds of American and
Filipino soldiers arrived here for the annual 32nd joint Balikatan war
exercises.
Army Capt. Rozelle Ticar, spokesperson of the 7th Infantry
(Kaugnay) Division based in this military camp said that they are ready to
receive American soldiers for the war exercises amid security concerns with
measures have already been laid out inside the camp as part of the routine.
"Everything is much under control and preventive
measures were laid out," Ticar said, adding that series of planning and
coordination were conducted as per instruction of commanding general, Maj. Gen.
Angelito De Leon.
Last year, four American soldiers lost their belongings to
thieves who gained entry inside the camp.
Army Staff Sergeants Scotty Wilson and Dwayne Massey and
Lieutenants Patrick Tierney and Thomas Dunne lost their belongings consisting
of army boots, wallet containing USD2,000, undetermined amount of pesos and
other personal belongings.
They were part of the 700-soldier contingent who plunged
into the war exercises inside this military camp along with 900 Filipino
soldiers.
A report said that unidentified suspects gained entry in the
unlocked building by boring through a hole beneath a perimeter fence and carted
away the belongings.
However, the said belongings were recovered.
“I am assuring that the said theft incident will not happen
anymore. Our soldiers stepped up for all preventive measures for the activity,”
he said.
This camp was one of five areas identified last March 18 by
the US and Philippine governments that will be utilized by American troops
under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) which they signed in
April 2014 as political tensions rose between the Philippines and China due to
disputes in the West Philippine Sea.
Aside from Fort Magsaysay , the deal also allows rotating US military presence at the Antonio Bautista Air
Base, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro and the
Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu .
Ticar said the main organizers of this year’s war games have
been informed them of the calendar of activities for the four-day war games.
Last year, part of the exercises were a community outreach
in nearby areas where Filipino and US troops performed medical and dental
operations, haircuts, feeding program, circumcision and distribution of Bibles.
It also marked the first time three modern attack
helicopters of the US forces showcased their air assault capabilities in the
first known mock air assault inside the sprawling military reservation.
These involved Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters and black
hawk aircraft.
Chinook helicopters are twin-engine, heavy-lift military
aircraft used for troop movements, artillery placement and battlefield resupply
because of its wide loading ramp at the rear of the fuselage and three
external-cargo hooks.
The advanced, multi-mission helicopter contains a fully
integrated digital cockpit management system and cargo-handling capabilities.
The said helicopters were also used in some other countries
like the United Arab Emirates ,
South Korea , Australia , Canada ,
the United Kingdom , Netherlands , Japan ,
Italy , Greece and Spain
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=872714
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