Carabao runs amuck in Balikatan

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga - A day after a Philippine Marine assault tank crushed to death a Filipino Marine during the Balikatan war exercises in Ternate Cavite, it was the turn of a wayward carabao to cause a stir at the war games in Subic, Zambales.

Barangay councilman Rolando Reclozado, 51, Kayce Manzano, 6, and Julieta Aga, 23, suffered injuries after a carabao run amuck while pulling a cart loaded with military equipment and supplies in Sitio Kinabukasan in Barangay Cawag last Tuesday.

The equipment and supplies were for the use of Filipino and American soldiers participating in the Balikatan exercises under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

Meanwhile, US Marine Col. Thomas Conant, commander of the US forces in the Balikatan exercises at this former US Air Force base, expressed his condolences to the Philippine military and the family of Marine Cpl. Noli Dadivas who died on the spot after a Philippine Marine V-300 assault tank ran over him during the war exercises at Caynipa beach in Ternate, Cavite last Monday.

"In the US military, and especially in the Marine Corps, we regard the loss of any service member's life like a loss of a family member," Conant said.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon said the Subic incident was just an accident, adding that while no American was hurt, the US Embassy was informed about it.

The incident was witnessed by members of the VFA Commission (VFACOM) who were monitoring the Balikatan exercises in Sitio Kinabukasan.