2019 Balikatan military drill ends

April 12, 2019

This year’s Balikatan military exercise between the Filipino and American troops formally ended in Camp Aguinaldo on Friday.

The closing ceremony was attended by United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal and military officials.

In his speech, Lorenzana said “Balikatan is a demonstration of our nations’ commitment to contribute to the peace and stability in the indo-asia-pacific region in the face of evolving regional security challenges.”

“Being one of the premier military exercises in the region, we endeavour to sustain and expand our balikatan through wider engagement and networking with our allies in the region,” he said.

Lorenzana thanked the observers and foreign contingents who joined this year’s Balikatan.

“This year, we have contingents and observers from other foreign allies, joining us in our resolution to maintain the stability in the larger Indo-Asia-Pacific region,” he said

“The same gratitude goes to the Australian contingent and to other foreign observers of this year’s Balikatan. Your support has certainly led us to the success and to the growing multi-lateralization of this exercise,” he added.

Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, commander of Southern Luzon Command and the Philippine Exercise co-director, said “the AFP and US Armed Forces greatly benefited from the different training, exchange of knowledge and cooperative activities.”

"It served not only as a venue to further enhance our capabilities as military organizations but also as an opportunity to help our people in less fortunate communities in the country. Ultimately, Balikatan 2019 brought out the best in our forces as we commit towards advancing regional security and stability, sustaining bilateral ties and strengthening defense partnership,” he said.

Lt. Cmdr. Liezl Vidallon, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Balikatan public information officer said the 35th iteration of Balikatan which ran from April 1 to 12, was participated by almost 8,000 forces composed of 4,000 AFP, 3,500 American and 50 Australian troops.

Vidallon said it “was comprised of 28 major combined or joint interoperability events that tested and enhanced the services’ skills and abilities in areas such as counterterrorism, amphibious operations, live-fire, urban operations and aviation operations.”

“The exercise also incorporated 18 humanitarian and civic assistance, community relations and subject matter expert exchange events,” she said.

“These included extensive renovation projects at several elementary schools, one-day veterinary and medical clinics, friendship visits to schools and orphanages, and a multi-day mental health conference for providers,” she added.

Australian Chief of Joint Operations Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld mentioned that Balikatan enhances regional readiness and response capabilities to real-world challenges.

“The Philippines is an important regional partner to both Australia and the US,” Air Marshal Hupfeld said. “Balikatan 2019 allowed all of the participants to build on existing military-to-military relationships and support the AFP's modernization efforts,” Hupfeld said.

Vidallon said “this was the first iteration of Exercise Balikatan to incorporate the USS Wasp paired with the U.S. Marine Corps’ F-35B Lightning II aircraft.”

“Together they represent an increase in military capability committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Their participation in Balikatan demonstrated their ability to forward deploy in support of an ally should a crisis or natural disaster occurs,” she said. Robina Asido/DMS