FORT RAMON MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija – President Benigno Aquino III witnessed the live-fire demonstration and mass evacuation of wounded soldiers as he graced the on-going Balikatan bilateral military exercises between Filipino and American soldiers inside this military reservation on Wednesday.
Aquino who did not address the public also met soldiers at the Officers’ Club hall here at around 11:00 a.m.
The chief executive sat on a bleacher at the Range 2 from where he viewed the demonstration before personally inspecting, along with ranking Army officials, military equipment.
Col. Steven Neary, commander of the Unites States Marines contingent, said that the joint military exercises was also aimed at revitalizing the inter-operability of the Philippines and United States military forces in post-conflict response through the conduct of disaster rehabilitation and rural development projects.
Aquino was welcomed by Leslie Bassett, deputy chief of mission of the US Embassy, Lt. Gen. Francis Wiercinski, commander of the US forces, Col. Manuel Ramos, commander of Combined Armed Forces (CARFOR)-Philippine side and Col. Anthony Camacho, CARFOR commander-US side.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr. and Presidential Communications and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon Carandang joined the presidential party.
Carandang said the government continues to upgrade the capability of the armed forces by acquiring equipment with the help of the US.
The 2011 “Balikatan Exercises” started on April 5 and will run until April 15. It is the 27th in the series of bilateral exercises conducted every year to serve as venue for joint and combined training between the Philippines and United States military forces.
Around 800 people composed of RP-US Armed Forces, members of the Philippine Commission For Visiting Forces Agreement, officers from the US Embassy, Joint US Military Assistance Group, AFP, Philippine Army, 7th Infantry Division (ID) and Southern Command (SOCOM), International Observers and other guests graced the event.
Aquino who did not address the public also met soldiers at the Officers’ Club hall here at around 11:00 a.m.
The chief executive sat on a bleacher at the Range 2 from where he viewed the demonstration before personally inspecting, along with ranking Army officials, military equipment.
Col. Steven Neary, commander of the Unites States Marines contingent, said that the joint military exercises was also aimed at revitalizing the inter-operability of the Philippines and United States military forces in post-conflict response through the conduct of disaster rehabilitation and rural development projects.
Aquino was welcomed by Leslie Bassett, deputy chief of mission of the US Embassy, Lt. Gen. Francis Wiercinski, commander of the US forces, Col. Manuel Ramos, commander of Combined Armed Forces (CARFOR)-Philippine side and Col. Anthony Camacho, CARFOR commander-US side.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr. and Presidential Communications and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon Carandang joined the presidential party.
Carandang said the government continues to upgrade the capability of the armed forces by acquiring equipment with the help of the US.
The 2011 “Balikatan Exercises” started on April 5 and will run until April 15. It is the 27th in the series of bilateral exercises conducted every year to serve as venue for joint and combined training between the Philippines and United States military forces.
Around 800 people composed of RP-US Armed Forces, members of the Philippine Commission For Visiting Forces Agreement, officers from the US Embassy, Joint US Military Assistance Group, AFP, Philippine Army, 7th Infantry Division (ID) and Southern Command (SOCOM), International Observers and other guests graced the event.
