President Rodrigo Duterte has given his nod to the continuation of the Balikatan joint military exercises between Philippine and US forces, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters on Monday.
Lorenzana said the continued conduct of Balikatan in the country was one of the DND's recommendations that Duterte approved.
The secretary said the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the two countries would also continue.
Lorenzana's remarks came weeks after Duterte declared in Beijing that he was separating the Philippines from the US, in terms of the military and the economy.
He said he was pursuing a foreign policy in which the Philippines would no longer follow the dictates of its treaty ally.
Duterte previously announced to end military exercises with the United States.
He also hinted revise or abrogate executive agreements just to see foreign troops out of the country.
"Nag-present kami. Practically in-approve niya lahat ng recommendation," Lorenzana told reporters on Monday.
"Iyong recommendation namin is the exercises will go on except na bawasan ang major exercises na involving landing exercise," he added.
This means that the Balikatan military exercises would still push through every year with the same number of participating Americans troops of 1,000.
"'Yung mga Balikatan na lang [ang natira]. So yearly, continue nalang siya. Ang matitira is counterterrorism, tsaka 'yung humanitarian response, 'yung mga special operations na mga counterterrorism, mga engineering projects, civic action. 'Yun na lang muna," he added.
This means that the Philippines will no longer engage in the Philippines Amphibious Landing Exercise (Phiblex) and the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) with US forces.
Lorenzana said the EDCA would remain.
"It will remain. Hindi naman [i-abrogate]," Lorenzana said.
source: GMA News Online
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