RP-US military exercises start

Overshadowed by the controversial Subic rape case involving four American servicemen, this year’s RP-US military exercises officially opened yesterday with no specific restrictions on US troops on night activities.

Paul Jones, United States Embassy chief of mission, along with US and local military officials, headed by Marine Commandant Maj. Gen. Nelson Allaga and his US counterpart, Brig. Gen. Joseph Medina, commanding general of 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), graced the opening of Talon Vision and Phiblex exercises at the Marine headquarters at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

US exercise director Col. Chester Jolley, chief of staff of the 3rd Marines Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) said no curfew would be enforced among US participating troops as programmed activities in the joint war exercises are enough to make the soldiers busy.

"I for one, as a pilot, I need at least several hours of sleep before flying," he said, referring to the hectic schedule of the military exercises.

Just the same, Jolley said soldiers’ activities, including rest and recreations, are now the main concern of every ground commander who are tasked to take full responsibility for the actions of their men.

In tasking commanders to watch over the actions of their men outside the exercise proper, he explained that the situation varies in every area of engagement. He said the situation at Clark Field in Pampanga is different from that in Ternate, Cavite; Zambales, Nueva Ecija or in Palawan, which are the key areas chosen as the venue of this year’s joint war games.

"It now depends on the ground commanders whether to enforce restrictions on their men," said Jolley in response to questions whether US sailors and the Marines would be barred from going outside their designated camps during their rest and recreation time.

Carefully not touching on the Subic rape case issue, Jolley disclosed that this year’s annual joint military exercises would not be all military maneuvers but would include a series of interactions among the locals.

Jolley also said that the US military will deploy enough protection to secure its servicemen from possible terrorist attack.

At least 5,000 servicemen coming from several US Naval and Marine bases in Japan and 1,300 local Marines, Army and Air Force troops are participating in this year’s annual military exercises.

Four US Marines have been tried and are just awaiting the verdict on the rape case filed against them by a Filipina, whom they reportedly sexually violated inside a running van in late November last year inside the former US naval facility.