BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said the presence of the United States Marine Corps, who arrived in Sagay City last week, was intended to train the Special Action Force members and allied police forces for the 2015 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in this city.
The governor reacted to the call of the militant groups to pull out the American troops from Negros Occidental, alleging that the US Marines will build their structures in the province similar to intervention in police and military activities in the country.
Marañon assailed the progressive groups, saying: “For the leftists, everything that the government is doing is wrong.”
He said the American soldiers in the country “will help our security and facility” for the APEC meeting. The training—anti-insurgency, mission planning and anti-terrorism courses, and APEC meeting preparation—will last for 45 days.
The APEC Meeting on Credit Bureau and Finance in Bacolod will be held from April 29 to 30, and will be attended by about 700 foreign and national delegates.