AJLPP Condemns US War Games

AJLPP Update
October 17, 2008


AJLPP Condemns RP-US war games in Luzon, Says It's An Act of Armed Intervention


Los Angeles- As Philippine and US troops began Wednesday a two-week integrated ground and air training meant to improve their forces' skills in fighting terrorism and responding to disasters and security situations,the AJLPP condemns such acts of brazen military intervention in the Philippines.

More than 60 military exercises or war games were conducted in the Philippines since the VFA was approved in 1999 according to AJLPP. The US-RP military war games commenced in the former US Clark Air base in Pampanga. It is now callled Diosdado Macapagal Airport after the current president 's father.

Brigadier General Natalio Ecarma, deputy commander of the Philippine Marine Corps, and Brigadier General Ronald Dailey, deputy commander of the US' 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, led the opening rites of the Talon Vision and Phiblex at the Holiday Inn at the Clark Freeport, north of Angeles city.

At least 600 Filipino troops and 2,000 American soldiers are participating in the training to be held in Clark, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Ternate in Cavite, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija and Crow Valley in Tarlac, according to Colonel Allan Ballesteros, spokesperson on the Philippine contingent.

Talon Vision War Games

Talon Vision began in 2000 while Phiblex started in 2005. Known NPA and MILF or ASG areas are being targetted by US war games. AJLPP reminded the public that the US Special Forces used adjacent areas very near the MILF bases as war games areas before the US- Estrada Regime before they lauched a full scale offensive in its war against the MILF in 2000.

Crow valley areas and several villages and Bueno in Capas town, both in Tarlac. This is the civic action part of the war games. Medical missions were also scheduled in Sta. Ignacia and San Jose towns, also in Tarlac, considered hotbeds of the NPA in Central Luzon.

The 3rd MEF brought along several CH46 and CH53 helicopters and F-18 jets for the war games.

The Philippine Air Force, which has jurisdiction over the 17,000-hectare Crow Valley near Mt. Pinatubo, banned residents, including Aetas in the area, from going to the exercise site during the day for their safety, Ballesteros said. Crow Valley is the gunnery range of the US Air Force inside the 64,000 hectares Clark Air Base. It was called Fort Strosseberg after the US Cavalry officer killed during the Fili[pino American War of 1899-1902. It was later renamed Clark Air Base.

A Filipino president Manue Roxas died inside the base professing his loyalty to US imperialism in 1947. He became the first president of the US puppet republic on July 4, 1946. His namesake- Manuel (Mar)Roxas III is now a Senator of the republic, recently sponsored and pased the Japan-Philippine treaty that will make the country a toxic dumping grounds of the Japanese.

US troops have been reportedly restricted from leaving the exercise sites. Commanders have yet to announce liberty or free time for the troops to do rest and recreation in commercial areas.

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