CLARK FREEPORT – United States embassy spokesperson Rebecca Thompson said that US military personnel now in the country for joint US-RP Balikatan military exercises are allowed during their free time to venture into communities near the locations of their exercises to experience local culture.
However, Thompson said that the American troopers venture out of their military exercise venue only in “organized” groups.
She also said that the thousands of US military personnel participating in Balikatan exercises were “briefed extensively” on Philippine culture and laws.
“Each of them act as ambassadors of friendship,” she said, but added that while visiting local communities is permitted, the American troopers are expected to “be very much focused” on Balikatan “training and planning exercises.”
This, after Senior Superintendent Pierre Bucsit, chief of the Angeles City police, admitted that some 100 US personnel based here for the Balikatan exercises, were secured by some 50 local cops during their sortie to the city’s red light district along Fields Avenue last Monday.
But Thompson expressed doubt that many of the American troops would have much free time for visits to communities near Balikatan venues.
“They have very busy schedules. There are more US personnel than their Filipino counterparts because they’re here to learn (from Filipinos),” she added.
The red light district along Fields Avenue here hosts hundreds of bars and other such establishments that cater mostly to male tourists. Despite the departure of the Americans from their former air force base at Clark and the adverse effects of the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991, the district survived and even flourished with the same reputation.
During the formal opening of Balikatan exercises the other day, some 6,000 participating US troops were told yesterday to behave after a controversial rape case involving a US Marine in one of past such exercises at Subic in Zambales.
Brig. General Ronald Bailey, head of the war games for the US side, said his wards were to work side by side with their counterparts mostly on humanitarian missions that would benefit impoverished areas in Luzon and the Bicol region.
He also said the US troops were told to “always respect the culture of this country” and to behave themselves during their two-week stay.
However, Thompson said that the American troopers venture out of their military exercise venue only in “organized” groups.
She also said that the thousands of US military personnel participating in Balikatan exercises were “briefed extensively” on Philippine culture and laws.
“Each of them act as ambassadors of friendship,” she said, but added that while visiting local communities is permitted, the American troopers are expected to “be very much focused” on Balikatan “training and planning exercises.”
This, after Senior Superintendent Pierre Bucsit, chief of the Angeles City police, admitted that some 100 US personnel based here for the Balikatan exercises, were secured by some 50 local cops during their sortie to the city’s red light district along Fields Avenue last Monday.
But Thompson expressed doubt that many of the American troops would have much free time for visits to communities near Balikatan venues.
“They have very busy schedules. There are more US personnel than their Filipino counterparts because they’re here to learn (from Filipinos),” she added.
The red light district along Fields Avenue here hosts hundreds of bars and other such establishments that cater mostly to male tourists. Despite the departure of the Americans from their former air force base at Clark and the adverse effects of the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991, the district survived and even flourished with the same reputation.
During the formal opening of Balikatan exercises the other day, some 6,000 participating US troops were told yesterday to behave after a controversial rape case involving a US Marine in one of past such exercises at Subic in Zambales.
Brig. General Ronald Bailey, head of the war games for the US side, said his wards were to work side by side with their counterparts mostly on humanitarian missions that would benefit impoverished areas in Luzon and the Bicol region.
He also said the US troops were told to “always respect the culture of this country” and to behave themselves during their two-week stay.
