SAN ANTONIO, Zambales—Carrying assault rifles and maneuvering amphibious vessels, Filipino and American marines on Friday scrambled up a sloping coastline to “defend a territory” and “beat off” their enemies.
As soon as the allied troops in full battle gear reached the shore, they disembarked from the amphibious ships and fired mortar rounds towards enemy positions.
That was how the troops carried out a mock assault as part of the Philippines Amphibious Landing Exercise (Phiblex 33) inside the Naval Education and Training Command here.
President Duterte has said the bilateral military exercises could be the last for the two countries. The war games that started this week were held on a beach fronting the disputed West Philippine Sea.
China seized Panatag, internationally known as Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, in 2012 after a two-month standoff with the Philippine Navy. It has since barred Filipino fishermen from getting near the rocky shoal, located 230 kilometers off the coast of this province.
On July 12, the Philippines won its law of the sea protest against China in the United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. But China has refused to honor the decision.
A US military official said bilateral military drills with Filipino troops allow for “a unique opportunity and chance to work together” and improve their military capability in addressing territorial or security threats.
The Republic of the Philippines and United States conduct amphibious landing exercise, Phiblex 33, at Naval Education and Training Command, San Antonio, Zambales, October 7, 2016. INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
Great relationship
“If it is the last [exercise], so be it. I have nothing to do with that. We’re going to continue to work together. We’ve got a great relationship,” said Maj. Roger Hollenbeck, US military spokesperson for the joint drills.
“These marines on both sides love working together. The Philippines is a magnificent place to train and visit,” he said. Capt. Ryan Lacuesta, director of the Philippine Marine Corps public affairs office, declined to comment on the issue. But he said these drills helped Filipino marines improve their capabilities and interoperability.
“[The military exercises] give us the opportunity to increase our capacity ranging from command and control [to] mobility, maneuver, logistics and disaster response operations,” Lacuesta said.
“Doing this jointly, we’ll be able to respond to any scenario in the future,” he added. During the first round of the war games, the Okinawa-based 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and its Filipino counterparts engaged in small arms and artillery live-fire.
The US troops also displayed their military hardware by bringing the US landing dock “USS Germantown” that carried 13 amphibious assault vehicles.
“Exchanging expertise and cultivating our long-standing security alliance provide a cornerstone for security and stability in the region,” Brig. Gen. John Jansen, commanding general of the expeditionary brigade, said in a statement.
About 1,400 US service members and 500 Filipino marines are participating in Phiblex 33 that formally started on Oct. 4 and would end on Oct. 12.
Another round of military drills is scheduled on Oct. 10 in Tarlac province.
The US Embassy in Manila said the humanitarian and civic assistance portion of the exercise, beginning in September and concluding on Oct. 12, includes engineering projects to improve local infrastructure and health services.
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