Cimatu in Hawaii for talks on new round of Balikatan

Armed Forces chief Gen. Roy Cimatu flew last night to Honolulu, Hawaii to discuss with Adm. Thomas Fargo, commander-in-chief of US forces in the Pacific, the details of the new round of Balikatan anti-terrorism training exercises between Filipino and American troops.

Cimatu told reporters at Malacañang yesterday he and Fargo will meet tonight in Honolulu where he will stay for two days for the regular meeting of the Mutual Defense Board.

"I’m leaving for Hawaii tonight and I think we will still be talking about the (new Balikatan) so I cannot give you any details yet," he said.

Cimatu said he could not say whether the next Balikatan would still be held in Mindanao and if the same terms of reference would be applied.

"We are not yet sure what will be the form and substance of the talks with my American counterpart," he said.

"I think we will discuss for now the same program for this year. As I was saying earlier, we will have a flexible program because what we plan are not rigid, so maybe there might be some adjustments to be made within the year."

Cimatu said US forces taking part in Balikatan 02-1 in Basilan and Zamboanga City have given the Philippine Navy "additional equipment" to help in the search for the body of slain Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya in the waters off Sibuco in Zamboanga del Norte.

"The (US) is providing us some additional equipment that are now in our inventory ... because they have boats that have surveillance equipment," he said.

Cimatu did not say what kind of US equipment Filipino troops are using to recover the body of Abu Sabaya.

Cimatu went to Malacañang with Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes to present to President Arroyo one of the two informants who tipped off the military on Abu Sabaya’s plan to escape pursuing troops via the sea last June 20.

Cimatu also received last-minute instructions from Mrs. Arroyo.–Marichu Villanueva