Reclaiming territory from invaders, a US Marine fires a machine gun during an amphibious landing exercise in San Antonio, Zambales province, as part of past annual Philippine-US joint military maneuvers. This year鈥檚 Balikatan drills will do away with combat scenarios but will focus on disaster response and counterterrorism. 蜜桃工作室 FILE / NI脩O JESUS ORBETA
The Philippines and United States will kick off its biggest Balikatan exercises under President Rodrigo Duterte in Camp Aguinaldo Monday morning.
Unlike in previous years where drills near the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) highlighted live fire drills based on invasion scenarios, this year鈥檚 bilateral exercises will focus on disaster response and counterterrorism.
搁贰础顿:听
The refocus is in line with Duterte鈥檚 rebalance of the country鈥檚 foreign policy. He wants to become less dependent on long-time ally the United States as he develops warmer ties with China and Russia.
Earlier, Duterte wanted the joint drills scrapped but softened his stance.
搁贰础顿:听2016 PH-US war games will be the last 鈥� Duterte
Only about 5,000 Filipino and American troops will participate in this year鈥檚 exercises that will run from May 8 to 19 in parts of Luzon and the Visayas. Last year, 11,000 troops took part.
Major Frank Celeste Sayson, Balikatan spokesperson, said this year鈥檚 scenario would focus on the response to a massive storm from the Pacific that will hit the eastern part of the Visayas and Luzon, leaving behind a swath of destruction.
鈥淲e are going to launch our bilateral service interoperability events based on that single scenario,鈥� he said.
Expected to attend the opening event at 9 a.m. are Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, US ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Armed Forces chief of staff General Eduardo A帽o.聽CBB