PINOY SOLDIERS TEACH AMERICAN SOLDIERS HOW TO ‘SURVIVE’

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Never underestimate the “Mandirigmang Pinoy.”

The ongoing Balikatan joint military exercise between the Philippines and the United States has proven that the proverbial warrior spirit of Lapu-Lapu is imbibed by Filipino soldiers who are teaching American soldiers how to fight and survive in the country’s harsh environment.

“Not only doon sa modern equipment, but also ‘yung basic skills, lalong-lalo na sa environment—’yung survivability nung individual soldiers dito sa environment natin. ‘Yun ang tinuturo sa mga Amerikano na kalahok sa Balikatan,” Philippine Army (PA) spokesperson Colonel Louie Dema-ala revealed.

In an interview on Super Radyo DZBB, the PA official observed that aside from their jungle survival skills, Filipino soldiers could stand alongside US forces in the largest iteration of the joint military exercise between the two nations as they are also updated in terms of training.

“Kayang-kaya nating sumabay with other countries kasi tinitignan naman natin dito not necessarily the capabilities, but also ‘yung skills and how we effectively employ itong capabilities,” Dema-ala further said.

He noted that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) provides a complement in the “gaps” of US forces when it comes to their capabilities.

(el Amigo/MNM)