Bahagi ng closing ceremony ng PH-US Balikatan Exercises 2014 (UNTV News)
MANILA, Philippines — Tapos na ang dalawang linggong Philippine-United States Balikatan Exercise 2014 na isinagawa sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa.
Sa kanyang talumpati, sinabi ni AFP Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista na malaki ang naitulong nito sa pagpapaunlad ng kaalaman sa military operations ng mga sundalong Pilipino at Amerikano.
“Friends and allies Philippines and United States will act on our collective capacity, to safeguard international peace and security and to ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty are respected.”
Bukod sa combat operations exercises, nagkaroon din ng pagpapalawak ng kaalaman sa non-traditional military role tulad ng rehabilitasyon at construction na isinagawa sa Tacloban at Bicol Region.
“Balikatan 2014 run the program from medical clinics, construction projects, survival skills, close battle combat and combined arms training,” pahayag ni Deputy Chief of Mission Brian L. Goldbeck ng US Embassy.
Ikinatuwa din ng mga ito na walang naaksidente sa kabuoan ng training kahit na nagsagawa ng live fire.
Umaasa naman ang Amerika na madadagdagan pa sa susunod na taon ang mga kaalyadong bansa na lalahok sa Balikatan.
“Now you know that regardless of uniform they were the man and women of standing shoulder to shoulder with you is a friend and ally and if together you can overcome any challenge,” pahayag ni US deputy exercise director Maj. Gen. Richard Simcock III.
Ang dalawang linggong Balikatan Exercise ay isinagawa sa Tarlac, Zambales, Clark Air Base, Cebu, Palawan at Nueva Ecija ng may 3,000 sundalong Pilipino at 2,500 US soldiers at nasa 60 Australian Royal Armed Forces na nagsilbing observer. (Lea Ylagan / Ruth Navales, UNTV News)