Efforts are now underway to provide President Rodrigo Duterte with information showing that the country’s military forces are benefiting from the various exercises being conducted with US forces. This was stressed by Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana Wednesday.
“It seems that the President was not provided with complete details (regarding benefits accrued by Filipino forces during exercises with their American counterparts). It is very likely that the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines failed to provide the proper information. We will address this shortcomings with the coming days,” he said in Filipino.
Lorenzana issued this statement in wake of the President’s statements that Filipino troops get no note-worthy benefits while exercising with US forces.
The Chief Executive made this statement prior the start of the 33rd iteration of the Philippine Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) which is now ongoing.
PHIBLEX started Oct. 4 and will end on the 12th. It involves 1,400 American troops and 500 Filipino military personnel. It will take place on various locations in Luzon and Palawan.
“But base on information we have gathered from General Headquarters and Army officers, they get ideas on how to train and use latest US weaponry, protective clothing and other equipment we do not have. This gives them incentive to acquire similar equipment and their reviews are use in the basis of procuring this weapons, Also, joint-training also gives our soldiers exposure on new war fighting systems, tactics and concepts like joint-landing, marksmanship, fire- and-maneuvers,” Lorenzana said.
Also, training with American forces gives Filipino units additional scope on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief readiness, giving them more capabilities to respond in times of calamities and disasters.
The DND chief said this concept was readily demonstrated by US forces during the onslaught of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” in Leyte in Nov. 8, 2013 where American aircraft, ships and personnel readily help their Filipino counterparts until the situation was stabilized.
Aside from this, other benefits obtained during American-Filipino war exercises are the conduct of joint-civic action projects in marginalized areas.
These missions provide these localities with new school buildings, multi-purpose halls, basketball courts and medical and dental missions.
Lorenzana also added that these joint exercises, especially the so-called “Table Top” ones give Filipino officers a chance to make decisions on war tactics and security.
http://www.update.ph/2016/10/efforts-to-provide-president-duterte-clearer-picture-of-benefits-from-joint-military-exercises-underway/10046
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