Delegates of joint staff college of Japan defense ministry on study visit

June 4, 2019

Delegates of the Joint Staff College of Japan's Ministry of Defense visited the Philippine Army headquarters on Tuesday.

Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, Philippine Army spokesman. said troops shared its counter-terrorism experiences to the Japan Ministry of Defense delegates as part of its study visit in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

He said the 14-member delegation from the Joint Staff College of Japan's Ministry of Defense is in the Philippines from June 2 to 7."

"Participating Army officers shared the command’s experiences during the Zamboanga and Marawi siege," he said.

"They emphasized the importance of joint agency operations of the military and government/non-government organizations in performing its duty of protecting the people and securing territorial integrity," he noted.

"Providing training to squad up to the command leaders and developing readily deployable force like the 1st Brigade Combat Team were also highlighted as the Army’s support system in preparing and addressing terrorism issues," he added.

Zagala said during the briefing led by Headquarters and Headquarters Support Group Commander, Brig. Gen. Bienvenido Regondola Jr., Joint Staff College Chief Instructor Capt. Katsuya Yamamoto it stressed how important is the study visit to members of the Japanese delegates.

"We have a few or no experience of terrorism. The Marawi experience, particularly, gives information to the students. Terrorism is not just a domestic issue, but also international,” Yamamoto said.

Zagala said aside from strengthening the bilateral relationship of both forces, the activity aims to help both sides to face rising threat of terrorism by providing the command knowledge and action in the previous terrorism crises in the Philippines. Robina Asido/DMS