””””MANILA, Nov. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- The Philippine-US anti-terrorism joint exercises
scheduled to begin last month has been moved to February next year after the
Philippine government failed to put up counterpart funding in time, a military
spokesman said Monday.
””””"There has been a delay in the release in our counterpart training funds
and in the procurement of equipment needed in the training particularly night
vision goggles and other specialized equipment," Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) Public Information chief Lieutenant Colonel Danilo Servando told reporters
in AFP headquarters.
””””However, he could not say how much the Philippine government supposed to
put up for the nine-month program dubbed "Security Assistance Training Modules."
””””The United States has promised to earmark 25 million US dollarsfor the
exercises aimed at improving the AFP's capabilities.
””””The joint exercises were originally intended to commence from October to
June next year. It is now tentatively scheduled for February through December
2003.
””””Servando added the recent spate of bombings in the Philippines,which killed
over 20 people including an American serviceman, had nothing to do with the
re-scheduling of the training program.
””””Servando said the Philippine and American representatives have held a
meeting recently to work out the final details of the schedule as well as
deciding the number of Filipino and American troops participating in the
exercises.
””””The training modules include the training and equipage of two Light
Reaction Companies, training of Light Infantry Battalions, UH-1H helicopter
night-flying capabilities, Operations-Intelligence Fusion and Program of
Instruction Development.
””””The said activities are scheduled to be held in the northern Philippine
province of Nueva Ecija, central city of Cebu and southern city of Zamboanga.
””””The Philippines and the United States held a joint military exercises in
the southern Philippines from January to July, fighting against the Abu Sayyaf
kidnapping-for-ransom group. Enditem
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