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Monday, February 19, 2007

Balikatan starts today

R&R slashed for US troops

By Francis Earl A. Cueto, Reporter

More work, less play. American soldiers participating in this year’s joint Balikatan exercises will have their rest and relaxation (R and R) strictly monitored by their commanders, US Embassy spokesman Matthew Lussenhop said on Sunday.

“They have orders regarding liberty and R and R as the Balikatan’s primary purpose is to work and do exercises,” Lussenhop said in a telephone interview.

“There is no R and R unless specifically approved by commander,” the embassy spokesman said.

Lussenhop said troops have been briefed on the sensitive case of Lance Corporal Daniel Smith, detained at the US Embassy as he appeals a conviction for rape.

American troops have been reminded to respect Philippine laws and cultural practices, he added.

“Any visiting troops are briefed about their responsibilities under the Philippine law while they are here, their need to obey the Philippine laws and Philippine customs so everybody is well briefed about the situation,” Lussenhop said.

The annual Balikatan will kick off today, and is expected to run until March 4, 2007.

A special opening ceremony will be held at 9 a.m., today, at the Camp Aguinaldo Officers’ Club.

US Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto G. Romulo are scheduled to give remarks.

Dignitaries from the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Defense, led by Secretary Her­mogenes Ebdane Jr.; the Philippine Congress; and US and Philippine militaries will also be present.

The co-exercise directors, US Army Maj. Gen. Stephen Tom and Armed Forces of the Philippines Rear Admiral Amable Tolentino are also present.

Balikatan 2007, the 23rd in this series, will be conducted under the auspices of the Mutual Defense Treaty and Visiting Forces Agreement.

According to a statement from the US Embassy, this year’s exercise focuses primarily on humanitarian projects in Mindanao, especially Jolo Island, including multiple medical, dental, veterinary and engineering projects carried out by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and US personnel.

There will also be a combined task force staff exercise that emphasizes crisis action planning in a maritime security scenario, which will help the two countries learn to work together in addressing real-world challenges such as terrorist transit routes, piracy, drug smuggling and critical infrastructure protection.

The term balikatan is from the Tagalog language, and means “shouldering the load together,” characterizing the guiding philosophy of this exercise and the US-Philippines security partnership.

Earlier, the Armed Forces chief, Gen. Hermogenes Espe­ron, declared that the large-scale war exercises between Philippine and American troops scheduled for February this year will be delayed, adding that the actual training exercises “have [yet] to be agreed upon by both parties.”

“The field training exercises are still no go. There will be a delay but my understanding is this will be pursued [in the] next quarter,” Esperon was quoted as saying.

The actual field training exercises of the Balikatan are normally held in the military traditional training facilities, including the Marine Base Ternate in Cavite; Fort Magsaysay, home of the Army’s Special Operations Command in Nueva Ecija; and in Crow Valley in Tarlac province.

What would proceed, Espe­ron said, is the other phase of the exercises, including table tap exercises or classroom discussions and joint civil-military operations. Such activities would commence February 19.

Esperon said the staff exercises and civil military operations phases of the Balikatan exercises would involve at least 380 Filipino troops. “There will be a similar, almost the same number of American forces that will be involved.”

The Balikatan exercises were scheduled to be held from February to March this year. The large-scale exercises were almost scrapped following the conviction of Smith in the Subic rape case on December 4.

A Makati Regional Trial Court judge had denied handing down Smith to the custody of the Americans, prompting the US government to announcement the postponement of this year’s Balikatan exercises.

But Smith’s sudden transfer to the US Embassy in Manila from the Makati City Jail on December 29 quickly made the US to announce that this year’s Balikatan exercises would push through.