180 PHL Army members to undergo training under Israeli forces

At least 180 members of the Philippine Army will undergo counter-terrorism training under the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the military said Tuesday.

Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala said the training of Filipino soldiers under the 10 members of the IDF has been set on June 26 to July 4 in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.

The participants from the Philippine Army will come from 2nd Infantry Division, 5th Infantry Division, 7th Infantry Division, 9th Infantry Division, and the Special Forces Regiment, the Scout Ranger Regiment and Light Reaction Regiment.

"Sila [sa IDF] ang magte-training sa atin kasi, based sa discussion kahapon, 'yung evolving threat of terrorism that we are facing... they are facing it, too," Zagala said.

"They want to share their experience, at the same time yung technology na ginagamit nila and how to utilize it," he added.

Zagala said the local army will benefit much from the training.

"Gusto nating ma-complement yung strengths natin, magkaroon ng exchange of knowledge and technology, lalo na ang command and control. It is important that we establish a methodology on how to go about our anti terrorism and combat techniques," he said.

The military grappled with five-month urban terrorism in May 2017 when the ISIS-inspired Maute group held the Islamic City of Marawi City under siege, leaving over a hundred people dead, at least P53 billion worth of damage and more than 250,000 residents displaced.

Since President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao in May 2017, Congress has extended it three times — by six months in July 2017, by one year in December 2017, and by another year in December 2018 — based on the argument that rebellion is still ongoing in Mindanao.

Zagala, however, clarified that the Marawi experience was not the sole basis of having training with IDF.

"They recognized what happened in Marawi, but this training is beyond that," he said.

"Terrorists are linked to international groups, so we need international cooperation. Tutulungan nila tayo na maging effective 'yung pag-address natin sa problema." —Llanesca T. Panti/KBK, GMA News