thedrifter
01-03-07, 02:56 PM
No shore leave, R&R for GIs at Balikatan
The Philippine Star
American soldiers participating in the annual Balikatan joint military exercises in the Philippines can expect less "rest and recreation" this year.
Officials also disclosed ongoing efforts to review the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement governing the conduct of US and Philippine troops during the military exercises to prevent any legal ambiguity arising from controversies like the issue of custody over Lance Corporal Daniel Smith, an American Marine sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a Filipina.
The issue of custody over Smith had caused the cancellation of the annual military exercises.
But after Smith was brought back to the US Embassy in Manila, US officials announced that it will proceed with the bilateral military exercise by March or April of this year.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis welcomed the decision to resume the joint war games.
But this time, troops will have to be restrained when it comes to rest and recreation, Seguis said.
"As per our understanding that the US military authorities will issue strict conduct for the participants of the Balikatan particularly the American forces to limit themselves to strictly what they are called for under the program, so any incident of misbehavior by any particular member of the American forces will be difficult to assume that it will happen again," Seguis said.
Seguis said the new rules strike out the granting of any shore leave to any trooper.
"Precisely... they will go back to their respective vessels immediately after the exercises and so (the chance of) incidents like rape or any untoward incident would happen is very, very remote," he said.
Seguis said activities of participating US servicemen will be only for the exercises while "social activities" will be restricted. The Balikatan exercises, which started in 2001, usually last for a week.
Seguis said the matter of imposing a stricter code of conduct for visiting troops was discussed shortly after the Subic rape case in November 2005 involving Smith and three other US Marines.
He said the VFA Commission, which is under the Office of the President, will be monitoring the exercises.
But the personal behavior of the visiting soldiers will be monitored by their respective commanders, he said.
Ermita, for his part, said the Smith case served as an "eye-opener" for both sides, which prompted moves to review provisions of the VFA, particularly defining what cases could be considered extraordinary.
Under the VFA, if a case is considered extraordinary, the Philippine government can invoke custody of the US military personnel involved.
Smith’s case was not considered extraordinary since the executive branch allowed the US Embassy to have custody of the convicted rapist.
Ermita said a clearer definition of "extraordinary" could help prevent future controversies.
Ermita defended the Balikatan exercises, saying it has much strategic value for the Philippines as it would improve the fighting capability of the Armed Forces, the most ill-equipped force in Southeast Asia.
Lawmakers, however, pointed out the provisions of the VFA are ambiguous and open to interpretation.
Cebu City Rep. Antonio Cuenco, chairman of the House foreign affairs committee, said the provisions of the VFA on the custody of erring American soldiers should be clarified.
"The stand of the House is to take a second look at the VFA with a possible review of the provisions we deem ambiguous like the custody of convicted US personnel. We hope the Americans will cooperate with us in this endeavor," Cuenco said.
He said in Japan and Korea, where the US has a similar agreement, local authorities take custody of an erring American soldier the moment he is indicted.
"Here, this can be done (only) after final conviction. We hope the US will listen to us. All we’re asking of them is to negotiate with us to avoid any confusion," Cuenco said.
Cuenco pointed out that the review of the VFA could also be an opportunity to enlighten Filipinos on the agreement.
‘An add-on’
Even without the joint RP-US military exercises, the Armed Forces of the Philippines believes it can operate on its own since all the systems had been in place even before American troops conducted bilateral training with Filipino soldiers.
AFP public information office chief Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro said that even before the VFA was ratified in 1999, they have been implementing training programs for individuals and units of the military.
"Add-on lang ang Balikatan… In the Armed Forces of the Philippines, anything that would boost its capability in all aspects, in terms of training, in terms of support would be welcomed but on its own, the AFP can stand, it can operate, even without the training with the Americans or other countries," Bacarro said.
Bacarro though admitted the AFP greatly benefited from joint military exercises with the US, particularly in the campaign against terrorism.
Bacarro cited the creation of the Army’s elite Light Reaction Battalion, whose members were trained and equipped by the US, as one of the examples of how joint military exercises benefit the AFP.
He said the unit has the most modern weapons and equipment, which would enable them to efficiently conduct operations even at night.
They have also undergone urban counter-terrorism training, making it a unit that could be rapidly deployed in areas where there are clear and immediate terror threats.
"We can conduct anti-terror operations, but it would be better if we have modern equipment for that," Bacarro said.
The AFP also welcomed the resumption of the Balikatan, saying that opportunities would not be lost in terms of training and interoperability between the two countries.
Bacarro said that the joint RP-US military exercises have benefited both countries in modern and guerrilla warfare aspects.
US Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines public affairs officer Maj. John Redfield said the war exercise will be tentatively held in February or March this year.
"The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Pacific Command officials are to announce the formal date of the opening of the Balikatan exercise," Redfield said.
Redfield, however, admitted he does not have any idea as to where the annual large-scale military exercise would be staged.
The Balikatan was previously held in three venues, including in Luzon, Central Visayas and Mindanao particularly in Zamboanga and parts of Basilan and Sulu.
Redfield said the JSOTF-P will be involved in the program, which mainly focused on the development and economic aspect of the exercise apart from the ground training.
The JSOTF-P is currently working with the AFP counterpart in Sulu providing development and technical assistance to the soldiers hunting down the Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu. James Mananghaya, Roel Pareņo, Sandy Araneta, Jess Diaz, Delon Porcalla
Ellie
The Philippine Star
American soldiers participating in the annual Balikatan joint military exercises in the Philippines can expect less "rest and recreation" this year.
Officials also disclosed ongoing efforts to review the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement governing the conduct of US and Philippine troops during the military exercises to prevent any legal ambiguity arising from controversies like the issue of custody over Lance Corporal Daniel Smith, an American Marine sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a Filipina.
The issue of custody over Smith had caused the cancellation of the annual military exercises.
But after Smith was brought back to the US Embassy in Manila, US officials announced that it will proceed with the bilateral military exercise by March or April of this year.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis welcomed the decision to resume the joint war games.
But this time, troops will have to be restrained when it comes to rest and recreation, Seguis said.
"As per our understanding that the US military authorities will issue strict conduct for the participants of the Balikatan particularly the American forces to limit themselves to strictly what they are called for under the program, so any incident of misbehavior by any particular member of the American forces will be difficult to assume that it will happen again," Seguis said.
Seguis said the new rules strike out the granting of any shore leave to any trooper.
"Precisely... they will go back to their respective vessels immediately after the exercises and so (the chance of) incidents like rape or any untoward incident would happen is very, very remote," he said.
Seguis said activities of participating US servicemen will be only for the exercises while "social activities" will be restricted. The Balikatan exercises, which started in 2001, usually last for a week.
Seguis said the matter of imposing a stricter code of conduct for visiting troops was discussed shortly after the Subic rape case in November 2005 involving Smith and three other US Marines.
He said the VFA Commission, which is under the Office of the President, will be monitoring the exercises.
But the personal behavior of the visiting soldiers will be monitored by their respective commanders, he said.
Ermita, for his part, said the Smith case served as an "eye-opener" for both sides, which prompted moves to review provisions of the VFA, particularly defining what cases could be considered extraordinary.
Under the VFA, if a case is considered extraordinary, the Philippine government can invoke custody of the US military personnel involved.
Smith’s case was not considered extraordinary since the executive branch allowed the US Embassy to have custody of the convicted rapist.
Ermita said a clearer definition of "extraordinary" could help prevent future controversies.
Ermita defended the Balikatan exercises, saying it has much strategic value for the Philippines as it would improve the fighting capability of the Armed Forces, the most ill-equipped force in Southeast Asia.
Lawmakers, however, pointed out the provisions of the VFA are ambiguous and open to interpretation.
Cebu City Rep. Antonio Cuenco, chairman of the House foreign affairs committee, said the provisions of the VFA on the custody of erring American soldiers should be clarified.
"The stand of the House is to take a second look at the VFA with a possible review of the provisions we deem ambiguous like the custody of convicted US personnel. We hope the Americans will cooperate with us in this endeavor," Cuenco said.
He said in Japan and Korea, where the US has a similar agreement, local authorities take custody of an erring American soldier the moment he is indicted.
"Here, this can be done (only) after final conviction. We hope the US will listen to us. All we’re asking of them is to negotiate with us to avoid any confusion," Cuenco said.
Cuenco pointed out that the review of the VFA could also be an opportunity to enlighten Filipinos on the agreement.
‘An add-on’
Even without the joint RP-US military exercises, the Armed Forces of the Philippines believes it can operate on its own since all the systems had been in place even before American troops conducted bilateral training with Filipino soldiers.
AFP public information office chief Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro said that even before the VFA was ratified in 1999, they have been implementing training programs for individuals and units of the military.
"Add-on lang ang Balikatan… In the Armed Forces of the Philippines, anything that would boost its capability in all aspects, in terms of training, in terms of support would be welcomed but on its own, the AFP can stand, it can operate, even without the training with the Americans or other countries," Bacarro said.
Bacarro though admitted the AFP greatly benefited from joint military exercises with the US, particularly in the campaign against terrorism.
Bacarro cited the creation of the Army’s elite Light Reaction Battalion, whose members were trained and equipped by the US, as one of the examples of how joint military exercises benefit the AFP.
He said the unit has the most modern weapons and equipment, which would enable them to efficiently conduct operations even at night.
They have also undergone urban counter-terrorism training, making it a unit that could be rapidly deployed in areas where there are clear and immediate terror threats.
"We can conduct anti-terror operations, but it would be better if we have modern equipment for that," Bacarro said.
The AFP also welcomed the resumption of the Balikatan, saying that opportunities would not be lost in terms of training and interoperability between the two countries.
Bacarro said that the joint RP-US military exercises have benefited both countries in modern and guerrilla warfare aspects.
US Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines public affairs officer Maj. John Redfield said the war exercise will be tentatively held in February or March this year.
"The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Pacific Command officials are to announce the formal date of the opening of the Balikatan exercise," Redfield said.
Redfield, however, admitted he does not have any idea as to where the annual large-scale military exercise would be staged.
The Balikatan was previously held in three venues, including in Luzon, Central Visayas and Mindanao particularly in Zamboanga and parts of Basilan and Sulu.
Redfield said the JSOTF-P will be involved in the program, which mainly focused on the development and economic aspect of the exercise apart from the ground training.
The JSOTF-P is currently working with the AFP counterpart in Sulu providing development and technical assistance to the soldiers hunting down the Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu. James Mananghaya, Roel Pareņo, Sandy Araneta, Jess Diaz, Delon Porcalla
Ellie