Deputy Chief of Mission
Remarks by Deputy Chief of Mission Leslie A. Bassett at the Opening Ceremony of U.S. – Philippines Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX), Philippine Navy Officer’s Club, Fort Bonifacio, October 17, 2011
(As prepared for delivery)
Major General Rustico Guerrero, Philippine Marine Corps; Brigadier General Eugene N. Clemen, Philippine Marine Corps; Rear Admiral Cornelio A. Dela Cruz, Armed Forces of the Philippines; Brigadier General Craig Q. Timberlake, United States Marine Corps.
I am pleased to be with you today to help open PHIBLEX 2012. Today, at the invitation of the Republic of the Philippines and Armed Forces of the Philippines, U.S. Marines and Sailors from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade from Okinawa, Japan will kick off nearly two weeks of combined training with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to improve interoperability, increase readiness, and build professional and personal relationships.
This year’s PHIBLEX covers many different facets of the bi-lateral relationship, from community relations activities and humanitarian assistance missions, to amphibious landings and live fire exercises. Your combined efforts in the coming days will take you to many different locations in the Philippines, both here on Luzon, and on Palawan.
The training activities of PHIBLEX in the areas of Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Assistance make possible the joint implementation of many meaningful civil-military operations, including engineering, dental, and medical projects that touch the lives of thousands of people, many of whom would not otherwise receive such medical care. These activities allow us to understand and learn from one another, so that we can better respond to future missions such as disaster relief efforts, while serving community needs.
This year’s Phiblex continues the great tradition of cooperation between our militaries celebrated this week in Leyte, where we will commemorate Gen. MacArthur’s return to renew the joint US-Philippine effort against a common enemy. This year’s Phiblex comes during the 60th anniversary year of our Mutual Defense Treaty, which provides the framework for our military cooperation. This year’s Phiblex marks the 28th time our militaries have conducted this exercise, in the spirit of friendship, cooperation, and military professionalism that characterizes this essential relationship. Times may change, but our shared values and principles are enduring.
This and every year, PHIBLEX represents an incredible feat of organization, communication, planning and goodwill between American and Philippine Marines and other members of our Armed Forces. Let me take a moment to thank our hosts, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, for once again dedicating the personnel, resources and goodwill that make this exercise possible.
I know there is a lot to do, and as you work together in the coming days to carry out the many events that make up this exercise, I wish you great success. May you learn a lot and help others, and may this year’s PHIBLEX be the best ever!