MANILA, Aug. 26 (PNA) — Responding to natural disasters and ensuring that no miscalculations occur in disputed waters were among the topics discussed by visiting US Pacific Command head Admiral Harry Harris and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Hernando DCA Iriberri.
This was revealed by AFP spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla Wednesday.
Harris arrived in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City at 10:30 a.m. and was accorded full military honors.
“We’re all cognizant of the challenges that are emerging, first of all the continuing natural disaster disasters that we always encounter, that we need to respond to it, the challenges that we need to face to ensure that no miscalculation occurs in our part of our seas and in the South China sea and to keep this free, these areas free for mariners so they can ply their trade and in the air so that the commercial airlines can continue to do their plights to specific locations,” he said.
However, Padilla said the American official did not give specific details on whether the US will conduct training exercises with its Filipino counterparts regarding these issues.
“No specific details (were given) for this,” he said.
With regards to the ongoing dispute in the West Philippine Sea, the AFP spokesman said the issue was not discussed during the meeting.
No specific commitments were also made by Harris regarding the monitoring of the disputed waters. (PNA)