All the fake terrorists were wiped out but no one was hurt or killed, and the day ended with both victors and losers sharing kegs of beer.
The "war games" were initiated by the Pampanga Air Soft League (PASL), composed of professionals, students, and retired military men from the Metro Angeles area, who invited soldiers from the US Marines’ Air Group 36 based in Futenma air station in Okinawa, Japan.
The games were played with toy guns, including modern carbines and sub-machine-guns, with plastic pellets as bullets. The guns, which looked genuine, are battery-operated and more powerful than those commonly sold in the market.
The Marines wore their official uniform, while their civilian Filipino counterparts also were in military uniform. Unlike the official joint war exercises under Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), however, it was the Filipinos’ turn to share their nearly authentic arms made of plastic.
"It’s a game that’s becoming popular among many people," said PASL member Elmer Cato, director of the consular office of the Department of Foreign Affairs for Central Luzon.
Cato said the US soldiers are members of the advance party of the US military that will be participating in the Balikatan 02-2 exercises this April.
The plastic gunfight simulated a possible scenario with the extremist Abu Sayyaf in Basilan, although the objective of one side was to seize the flag in the hands of the other party.
"We really shot each other and had to rely on the honor system. Since the bullets leave no mark, those hit would volunteer themselves for elimination until all the members of one group have been disqualified," Cato said.
There were four such games played by the US troopers and the PASL members during the day, with Filipino members shifting sides.
"It was really like a more fun version of the Balikatan war exercises," said Cato who once acted as executive director of the Presidential Commission on the VFA.
"PASL members have always wanted to expand the US-RP relationship in the VFA exercises beyond the military. The games we had provided a chance for the Filipino civilian community to interact more socially with the US soldiers," Cato added.
Meanwhile, two C-130 US cargo planes and four CH-53 US Super Stallions landed here from their base in Guam last Monday for refueling. The aircraft left yesterday morning for Thailand, where they are to participate in the war exercises dubbed "Cobra Gold."
Maj. Allan Ballesteros, spokesman for the 600th Air Base Wing of the Philippine Air Force based here, said that more US military are expected in this former US air base this April for Balikatan 02-2
Some 1,700 US Marines are expected next month for the exercises at Clark, Subic Bay in Zambales and Sangley Point in Cavite.