AFP chief open to much bigger Balikatan 2024
‘ALLIANCE IS ALIVE’ President Marcos, seen here alighting a truck equipped with US High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, is the first Philippine leader in 12 years to attend the annual “Balikatan” exercises between the United States and the Philippines, in San Antonio, Zambales, on Wednesday. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Andres Centino is open for much bigger bilateral war games between the United States and the Philippines next year.
Centino, when asked if next year’s Balikatan will see a similar or more number of troops, told reporters in a chance interview in Camp Aguinaldo: “Kung nakita natin there is a need, talagang dagdagan natin.”
(If we see that there is a need, we will add more.)
“Of course, it would be better na magkaroon tayo ng chance to train with other armies also, mga friends and allies natin,” he added.
(Of course, it would be better to have a chance to train with other armies and our friends and allies.)
The 38th iteration of Balikatan saw the biggest number of troops in its history with 17,600.
READ: AFP: US-PH to hold ‘largest-ever’ war games with 17,600 troops
This year’s Balikatan exercises, which began on April 11, ended on Friday, April 28.
“Balikatan” is a Tagalog term which means “shoulder-to-shoulder” or “sharing the load together”.
