AFP bans media coverage of Balikatan exercises

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has banned media coverage of joint military field exercises with its American counterpart.

Citing no particular reason for declaring this year’s 34th Balikatan exercises off-limits to the media, the AFP said it would no longer allow coverage of activities in Zambales and Tarlac.

Members of the media were invited to witness the amphibious landing at the Naval Education Training Command in San Antonio town of Zambales on May 9 and the combined arms live fire exercise at Col. Ernesto Rabina Air Base or Crow Valley in Tarlac on May 15.

But on Thursday last week the AFP closed the Tarlac activity to the media and, over the weekend, banned any coverage of the Zambales amphibious landing, as well. —Jeannette I. Andrade