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Date Uploaded: 29 March 2012
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VFACom holds inter-agency meeting on the VFA in Iloilo City
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A VFA Commission team led by Usec Edilberto P. Adan held an inter-agency meeting in Iloilo City on March 2, 2012 about the visit of USS Chafee (DDG 90) in Iloilo to familiarize Agencies concerned on the provisions of the Visiting Forces Agreement and discuss the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The meeting was attended by Commodore Athelo L. Ybañez, Philippine Coast Guard District Commander; Colonel Arnold Quiapo, Philippine Army 301st Brigade Commander; PSSupt Manuel Felix, PNP Deputy Regional Director; PSSupt Ranulfo Demiar, Chief of ROPD PNP; LCdr Venus Gualdaquever, NavResCom Commander, and Ms Emily D. Espeso from Philippine Ports Authority. The Executive Director presented a briefing on the VFA and issues related.
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Usec Edilberto P. Adan (seated center) together with the participants of the inter-agency meeting on the VFA held on March 2, 2012 at the Sarabia Manor hotel, Iloilo City
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The guided missile destroyer USS Chafee was in Iloilo from March 1 to 5, 2012 to support the US Embassy’s 3D program dubbed as America in 3D (Diplomacy, Defense, and Development). America in 3D is a nationwide program that takes the US Embassy on the road throughout the Philippines in order to deepen the relationship between the two nations.
The ship conducted a reception onboard in the evening of March 2, 2012 and was attended by US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Leslie Bassett, Iloilo City Mayor Patrick Jed Mabilog, top officials from government and business sectors and media personnel. Visitors had a chance to tour the ship.
Ship visits and port calls are approved activities under the Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board and are covered by the Visiting Forces Agreement.
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Guided missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) docked in Iloilo International Port
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Date Uploaded: 05 March 2012
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Joint Hearings of the HOR Committees on National Defense and Security and Foreign Relations on the PH-US Relations and the VFA
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A joint hearing of the Committees on National Defense and Security and Foreign Relations of the House of Representatives chaired respectively by Rep. Rodolfo Biazon and Rep. Al Francis Bichara was held on Wednesday, 22 February 2012 at the House of Representatives Complex, Quezon City. The SFA Albert F. Del Rosario, SND Voltaire T. Gazmin, VFACOM Exec Director Edilberto P. Adan, The Chief State Counsel DOJ, and senior AFP officials were invited to answer several House Resolutions (viz., HJR no. 07, 17, 368, 399, 409, 2100 and 1434).
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Date Uploaded: 16 February 2012
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VFACOM Conducts Lecture to AFPCGSC students
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The Executive Director of the VFA Commission, Undersecretary Edilberto P. Adan conducted a lecture and video presentation on the lesson “Philippines Bilateral Treaty with the United States and the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement” on Jan 31, 2012 to students of the AFP Command and General Staff Course Class 55 composed of 152 students from the AFP, AFP reservists, and seven (7) from Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Korea.
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The Executive Director being received by BGen Benito De Leon, AFPCGSC Assistant Commandant
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The VFA Commission conducts public information activities for key stakeholders by way of lectures, dialogues, and focused group discussions. After completion of the Course, the graduates who hold the ranks of Major and Lieutenant Colonel, will assume command of battalions or their equivalent and Brigade or Division level staff appointments.
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Usec Ed P. Adan while conducting lecture to students.
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Date Uploaded: 19 December 2011
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Vector Balance and Emergent Balance Piston 12-1 Concluded
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Exercises Vector Balance 12-1 and Emergent Balance Piston 12-1 concluded on Dec 5, 2011 at the SOCOM Headquarters in Fort Magsaysay. Emergent Balance Piston and Vector Balance started Oct 31 and Nov 7, 2011 respectively. The PH participants were from the AFP Light Reaction Battalion (LRB), the PNP Special Action Force (SAF), and the US 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne). The US participants came from ODA- 1431, Company C, 4th Bn, 1st SFG (A). The Keynote speaker during the Joint Closing Ceremony was BGen BGen Nicanor E. Dolojan, Deputy Commander of SOCOM.
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BGen Nicanor Dolojan, Keynote Speaker during the closing Ceremony of Vector Balance and Emergent Balance Piston 12-1 Exercise.
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The Exercise Directors of Vector Balance and Balance Piston namely, Col Ronnie S. Evangelista, CO, LRB and Col Lope Dagoy, Commander, SOCOM Doctrine and Training Group attended.
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The participants of the Vector Balance and Balance Piston held in Fort Magsaysay.
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BGen Dolojan recalled the history of friendship between the Philippines and The United States. During the Exercise, Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopters were used for insertion and close air support operations.
The objectives to develop inter-operability among different units and to foster good relations between the two armies were met.
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Participants of Balance Piston 12-1.
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Date Uploaded: 15 December 2011
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PH-US Planners Meet for Balikatan 2012
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The Final Planning Conference for Balikatan 2012 was held in Makati City on Dec 5-10, 2011. It was attended by more or less 120 PH-US planners from the AFP and US PACOM. Balikatan Exercise is an annual activity between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and US military forces to enhance interoperability in sea, air and ground operations. Next year’s Exercise consists of three (3) main activities: Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Response (HA/DR) focused Command Post Exercise (CPX) from 16-27 April 2012, a Field Training Exercise (FTX) on April 16-27, 2012, and Humanitarian/Civil Assistance (HCA) activities. The objectives of Balikatan 2012 are to improve combined inter- operability and combat readiness of AFP and US Forces, advance regional security cooperation and build PH non- traditional capabilities.
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PH-US Planners work with their counterparts for Balikatan 12.
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Balikatan 2012 is the 28th iteration of PH-US bilateral Exercise but it will be the first ever multilateral event wherein other countries will be involved in the Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Response (HA/DR) Exercise from April 16-27, 2012. Other participating countries are Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and South Korea. The scenario includes a response to a large scale natural disaster centered on the Metro Manila Area.
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PH and US Executive Agents Col Costales and Mr De Guzman present the final outbrief to RAdm Martir.
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Aside from Disaster Response, Field Training Exercise (FTX) for Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Special Operations Forces (SOF) will be held in Crow Valley, Tarlac; Luzon Sea; Basa AB and Clark AFB, Pampanga; Fort Magsaysay Nueva Ecija; Metro Manila; West Philippine Sea; and Tagkawayan, Ulugan Bay, Rio Tuba, Inagawan, and El Nido, all of Palawan. The 12-day event will comprise simultaneous events involving air, land and sea operations. Big footprints will be in Fort Magsaysay (Army), Palawan (Navy and Marines), Clark (Air Force) and Crow Valley (mixed). Special Operations Forces (SOF) Exercises will be held in Zamboanga, Jolo, and Basilan.
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Head planners listen as Executive Agents present the final outbrief.
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Date Uploaded: 24 November 2011
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Two MDB-SEB Exercises Ongoing in Fort Magsaysay
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Two PH-US Exercises are being held in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija this November. they are: Vector Balance Piston 12-1: and Emergent Balance Piston 12-1.
Vector Balance Piston is being participated by 122 PH-US service men, 68 LRB personnel, 32 SAF PNP, and 22 US personnel from C Co, 1st Bn, 1st SFG (A), led by CPT Sam Kim. The Exercise includes Advance Combat Life Saving, Combat Marksmanship Training, Close Quarter Battle, Sensitive Site Exploitation, Close Target Reconnaissance, Special Operation Target Interdiction, Military Free Fall, Air Mobile Operation and Combatives. It will culminate with a Full Mission Profile (FMP) Exercise and Friendship Jump (HALO and Static Line. The Exercise will be held in Fort Magsaysay and Angeles City, Pampanga. The Training Directorate is headed by Col Ronnie S. Evangelista, CO, LRB.
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Participants of Vector Balance 12-1 on Snipers Training while a US soldier supervise.
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Emergent Balance Piston has 102 participants: 8 US and 94 PH soldiers. The US Participants are members of ODA- 1431, Company C, 4th Bn, 1st SFG (A) led by CW2 Bradley James. The objectives are: Develop inter-operability among SOCOM units; and foster good relations between the participants. The Training Directorate is headed by Col Lope Dagoy, Commander, SOCOM Doctrine and Training Group.
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Date Uploaded: 22 November 2011
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Manila Declaration Reaffirms the Mutual Defense Treaty and the VFA
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This year marked the 60th year anniversary of the RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty. To culminate the celebration of this milestone, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario signed the Manila Declaration last November 16, 2011 which re-affirmed the treaty as the foundation of the existing relationship between the two countries. This declaration enabled both sides to express its interest on continuing its bilateral cooperation in addressing regional and global challenges for the next 60 years and beyond.
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Date Uploaded: 11 November 2011
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VFA Commission Chairman as the PMA Guest of Honor
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The Chairman of the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement, Executive Secretary Paquito N Ochoa Jr. pledged that the government will give priority to the proper equipping and training of the Armed Forces. In his speech as the Guest of Honor during the 113th Foundation Day of the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City on October 22, 2011, he encouraged the PMA to train the cadets in disaster response and public and community relations as well.
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The Executive Secretary was received by the PMA Superintendent MGen Nonato Alfredo Peralta and the Commandant of Cadets BGen Maximo G. Caro. The Executive Director of the Commission, Usec Edilberto P. Adan joined the Chairman during the ceremony in Fort Del Pilar.
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Date Uploaded: 11 November 2011
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Phiblex 2011 Boat Raid Exercise in Palawan
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Combined Philippines’ and the United States’ Marines conducted a Boat Raid Exercise at the coast of Tagkawayan, Puerto Princesa City as part of PHIBLEX 2011. The objectives of the Exercise were to train Fleet-Marine forces for Amphibious Exercise, increase combat readiness, and continue to build professional relationships that promote inter operability between the two countries.
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PH and U.S Marines during boat raid exercise in PHIBLEX 2011.
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The activity was witnessed by VFACom Executive Director, Usec Edilberto P. Adan, LtGen Juancho M Sabban, WESCOM Chief, BGen Craig Timberlake and BGen Eugenio N. Clemen, Co-Exercise Directors, Former Vice Mayor Nantes of Kalayaan Island, local officials and members of the media.
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In the simulated scenario, the combined PH and US Forces demonstrated their capabilities to infiltrate an enemy’s base by coming in from the sea and using the element of surprise to their advantage. This year’s PHIBLEX exercise held from October 17-28, focused on improving territorial defense capabilities as well as disaster response preparedness.
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The WESCOM Chief, LtGen Juancho M Sabban, remarked that amphibious operation like the boat raid is a core competence of the Philippine Marines and training with the American counterparts would further improve their capabilities.
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Date Uploaded: 20 September 2011
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PHIBLEX 2011 Concluded
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PHIBLEX 2011 which started 17 Oct was concluded on 28 Oct 2011 at the Philippine Marine Corps Auditorium in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. It was attended by US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas Jr. and Undersecretary Edilberto P. Adan of the VFA Commission as special guests and MGen Rustico O. Guerrero, Commandant Philippine Marines Corps as Guest of Honor and Speaker.
The 12-day exercise involved Field Training Exercise (FTX), Command Post Exercise (CPX) and Civil Military Operations (CMO). These included M35 Vehicle Maintenance Training, Special Operations Training, Artillery Operations, Live Fire Exercise, Armor Operations, Mechanized Raid, Air Operations, Amphibious Landing and Boat Raid Operations.
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BGen Eugenio N. Clemen presents a memento to BGen Craig Q. Timberlake during the closing ceremony of Phiblex 2011.
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CMO projects were conducted in 5 Elementary Schools and 1 High School in Palawan, 2 Barangays in Ternate, Cavite and 1 Barangay in Taguig City which benefited 5,112 patients, 5,000 families and over 10,000 pupils and students. The Medical Civic Action projects in in Brgy Sapang 2 and Brgy Poblacion, Ternate, Cavite, Brgy Sto Nino, Taguig City and Brgy Quinlogan in Quezon Palawan treated a total of 4,260 patients and the Dental Missions treated 852 patients. Community Relations (Comrel) projects were conducted in Sapang Elem School in Ternate Cavite, Sicsican Elem School and East Central Elem School in Puerto Princesa, Abu-Abu Elem School and Alfonso Trece Elem School in Quezon Palawan.
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