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Armed Forces of the Philippines - US
Pacific Area Command
BALIKATAN 02-1 HQ Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo
Quezon City, Philippines
TERMS
OF REFERENCE (TOR) FOR RP-US EXERCISE
BALIKATAN 02-1
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A.
POLICY LEVEL
-
The
Exercise shall be consistent with the Philippine Constitution and all its
activities shall be in consonance with the laws of the land and the
provisions of the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
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The
conduct of this training Exercise is in accordance with pertinent United
Nations’ (UN) resolutions against global terrorism as understood by their
respective parties.
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No
permanent US basing and support facilities shall be established. Temporary
structures such as those for troop billeting, classroom instructions and
messing may be set up for use of RP and US forces during the Exercise.
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The
Exercise shall be implemented jointly by RP and US Exercise Co-instructors
under the authority of the Chief of Staff, AFP. In no instance will US
Forces operate independently during field training exercises (FTX). AFP and
US Unit Commanders will retain command over their respective forces under
the overall authority of the Exercise Co-Directors. RP and US participants
shall comply with operational instructions of the AFP during the FTX.
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The
Exercise shall be conducted and completed within a period of not more than
six months, with the projected participation of 660 US personnel and 3,800
RP forces. The Chief of Staff, AFP, shall direct the Exercise Co-Directors
to wind up and terminate the Exercise and other activities within the six
months Exercise period.
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The
Exercise is a mutual counter-terrorism advising, assisting and training
Exercise relative to Philippine efforts against the ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group),
and will be conducted in the island of Basilan. Further advising, assisting
and training exercises shall be conducted in Malagutay and the Zamboanga
area. Related activities in Cebu will be for the support of the Exercise.
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Only
160 US troops organized in 12-man Special Forces Teams shall be deployed
with AFP field commanders. The US Teams shall remain at the Battalion
Headquarters and, when approved, Company Tactical Headquarters where they
can observe and assess the performance of the AFP forces.
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US
Exercise participants shall not engage in combat operations, without
prejudice to their right of self-defense.
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These
Terms of Reference are for the purposes of this Exercise only and do not
create additional legal obligations between the US Government and the
Republic of the Philippines.
B.
EXERCISE LEVEL
1.
TRAINING
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Exercise
shall involve only the conduct of mutual military assisting, advising and
training of RP and US forces with the primary objective of enhancing the
operational capabilities of both forces to combat terrorism.
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At
no time shall US forces operate independently within RP territory.
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Flight
plans of all aircraft involved in the Exercise shall comply with the local air
traffic regulations.
2.
ADMINISTRATION
AND LOGISTICS
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RP
and US participants shall be given a country and area briefing at the start of
the exercise. This briefing shall acquaint US forces on the culture and
sensitivities of the Filipinos and provisions of the VFA. The briefing shall
also promote the full cooperation on the part of the RP and US participants for
the successful conduct of the Exercise.
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RP
and US participating forces may share, in accordance with their respective laws
and regulations, in the use of their resources, equipment and other assets. They
will use their respective logistics channels.
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Medical
evacuation shall be jointly planned and executed utilizing RP and US assets and
resources.
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Legal
liaison officers from each respective party shall be appointed by the Exercise
Co-Directors.
3.
PUBLIC
AFFAIRS
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Combined
RP-US Information Bureaus shall be established at the Exercise Directorate in
Zamboanga City and at GHQ, AFP in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
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Local
media relations will be the concern of the AFP and all public affairs guidelines
shall be jointly developed by RP and US forces.
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Socio-Economic
Assistance Projects shall be planned and executed jointly by RP and US forces in
accordance with their respective laws and regulations, an in consultation with
community and local government officials.
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