The United States Embassy in Manila said the joint Balikatan war games would resume from February 18 to March 4, with focus on humanitarian work in Mindanao. An embassy statement said the US and the Philippines would concentrate on civil-military operations, including bringing medical assistance to areas like Jolo Island, where al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf militants are on the run from a major military offensive.
The exercise was cancelled last month
following the conviction and jailing of Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith for
raping a Filipino woman. He was sentenced last month for 40 years for rape. The
incident prompted Washington to indefinitely suspend the military exercises
after the Philippine court initially refused to hand over custody of Smith to
the US Embassy.
President Arroyo, noting damage to
strategic relations, ordered Smith’s transfer to the US Embassy while the rape
conviction went to the Court of Appeals.
