The US’s annual Balikatan Exercises scheduled for April to May is set to gather the largest ever contingent of foreign troops in the Philippines. Besides American troops, Japan will directly participate with 1,000 defense troops, along with troops from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and France.

Some 18 countries will join as “observers” in the operations and combat maneuvers. Troops such as Australian and Japanese arrived in the Philippines as early as February. They conduct non-stop voyages with the US in the country’s territorial waters to challenge Chinese vessels. This is blatant intervention in the internal maritime issues between China and the Philippines. Foreign vessels have launched up to 25 similar voyages and interventions since 2023.

Filipino troopers numbering 4,222 took part in the so-called Littoral Defense Live Fire Exercise in Burgos town, Pangasinan on March 9. This is part of the Combined Arms Training Exercises or CATEX-Katihan and preparation of local troops for the US war games series under Balikatan. The military wantonly spends on fuel, ammunition, weapons, and logistics despite the economic crisis facing the people.

Contrary to the AFP’s claims that their presence helps the local economy, residents suffered hardship and misery. The no-sail policy deprives fisherfolk of their livelihood, while day-long live fire plagued the community with fear and noise. The activity lasted just one day but it had immense impact on the livelihood of farmers and fisherfolk who must toil daily.

Bases of distress

Over 50 American troops arrived in Cagayan de Oro City for a two-week “Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Training,” joined by 4th ID troopers. The war games began on March 8 at Lumbia Air Base, an EDCA site, and will end on March 24. A US naval vessel docked on March 15 at Macabalan pier carrying additional American troops.

The sudden arrival of foreign troops terrorized the residents. They worry the city, and the entire Philippines, will get dragged into the US-ignited war in Iran and the Middle East. The local council questioned the reason and scope of the troops’ activity and expressed concern for residents’ safety, especially for crimes the troops may commit. One councilor also proposed banning bars near the base to avoid abuse and problems commonly linked to American troops’ presence. They fear the US will use the Lumbia Air Base for its troops’ refueling or logistical support and that the city could thus become a military target.

The National Democratic Front-North Central Mindanao Region (NDF-NCMR) strongly condemned the entry of American troops in the city. It belied claims that American operations at Lumbia are “humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training.” American troops used Typhoon Ondoy in September 2009 as a pretext to flaunt their large and advanced military technology and normalize their presence. The concentration of training at the EDCA site exposes the true militarist intent of their operation, it added.

Besides Lumbia Airport, the AFP and US plan to build a naval base in the 3,000-hectare PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. This will transform Northern Mindanao into a forward base for US aggression, according to the NDF. It endangers Filipinos and drags the country into US wars anywhere in the world.