US troops join civic action in Capiz
Despite threats from the New People's Army (NPA), American military trainers participated in yesterday's civic action in Jamindan town, Capiz.
Capt. Renante Besa, information officer of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, said that yesterday's civic action and medical-dental mission in Brgy. Agloloway went smoothly.
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has ordered its armed wing, the New People's Army to conduct offensives against the military exercises in the Bicol region and in Jamindan.
In response to the communist threat, the military has upgraded security for the US troops and intensified monitoring of movements of NPA units in Panay. In Jamindan, all of the training events except for the civic action and medical-dental missions, were held inside the premises of Camp Macario Peralta, the base of the 3rd ID.
In yesterday's civic action, they were able to service about 500 civilians, Besa said in a phone interview.
Despite the communist threat, the US troops participating in Balance Piston 09-1 performed medical consultations, and assisted in the dental extractions and in the distribution of medicines, Besa stressed.
He added that the US troops also joined with the children in the parlor games.
On Wednesday, the US troops will again join in a medical-dental mission to be held in Brgy. Jaena Sur, also in Jamindan town. The military expects to serve around 500 civilians there, Besa said.
The civic action programs in Brgys. Agloloway and in Jaena Sur are among the 11 training events in the joint training exercises participated in by 31 American military specialists and 141 troops from the 3rd ID. Balance Piston 09-1, the second joint training exercise held in the Visayas, ends February 20.
The free medical services include consultations, blood pressure monitoring, deworming, tooth extraction, free haircut, and even shiatsu massage.