MANILA — US and Philippine special forces will begin annual combat exercises on Wednesday in a sign such joint drills are continuing despite vocal opposition by the Philippine president.
Philippine army spokesman Col. Benjamin Hao said the Balance Piston exercises will start in the western province of Palawan. Both sides have agreed to forego live-fire drills in the field during the month-long exercises, he said on Tuesday.
Hao didn’t give a reason for dropping the live-fire maneuvers, traditionally one of the highlights of the exercises, but the Philippine defense department has said President Rodrigo Duterte wants such overt assault drills to be discontinued.
Markmanship events will proceed but will be confined to a camp, Hao said. The drills will also include mock sea interdictions, care for combat casualties and “combat” swimming drills, he said.
About 40 elite Filipino troops will participate in the exercises, Hao said. He declined to say how many Americans will take part.
“This is an annual training event to test the basic war fighting skills of our soldiers and to foster an improved relationship of our armed forces,” Hao said.
Duterte publicly declared that he would halt all joint combat exercises with the Americans, but later walked back on the threat, sparking uncertainty among Philippine and US officials. — AP
