RP, US forces 'plan' maritime operations

Filipino and American troops taking part in this year’s Balikatan exercises started Tuesday planning for joint maritime operations, including addressing terrorist threats on the high seas. Quickly, however, Lieutenant Commander John Taylor said that whatever "operational orders" to be developed would necessarily be implemented when such scenarios occur in the future. "It is nothing than our forces gathering around a table top right here and discussing our plan," said Taylor on the opening of the tabletop staff exercises in Camp Aguinaldo. Taylor is the plans officer of the Pacific Maritime Command. The week-long exercise involves 52 American and 75 Filipino soldiers and is observed by seven foreign representatives. Taylor said the objective of the staff exercise is to address transnational threats, mostly in areas within the Western Mindanao area. The region is under the area of responsibility of the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command headed by Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo. "We’re at both terrorist and piracy as well as drugs and smuggling, those are among our maritime security issues," Taylor said, adding that the specific concerns they would like to address includes the movement of terrorist leaders by boat. Other specific threats being looked at are a bomb threat on a Superferry, terrorist threat at the Malampaya oil pipeline, a cargo ship containing illegal drugs, a piracy attack in the Sulu Sea, a Superferry disaster occurrence, and armed drug smuggling fires at Filipino troops. After the briefing conducted by Taylor, Philippine military chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr said there was a chance that the plans could be put into actual operations. "Later on, these could be translated into actual plans. The orders could come from any headquarters, including the Western Mindanao Command," he said. "For example, there is a terrorist leader moving out from Jolo by boat, so what do our troops do? It’s very simple. But if you would start your planning right there and then, you might be too late in your actions," he said. - GMANews.TV