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BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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MANILA – The Australian government offered to help the Philippine military in the latter’s fight against Islamic terrorists.
“The offer of Australia to train the Armed Forces of the Philippines is most welcome,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said on Wednesday.
The war against terrorism is a global concern, Abella stressed.
“The Philippines has in many occasions expressed its willingness to receive assistance from foreign countries if they offer it,” the spokesperson said.
According to Abella, the Australian military aid is limited to “technical matters, training, and information gathering and sharing.”
“It will not involve any boots on the ground in accordance to our law prohibiting the direct participation of foreign troops in combat operations,” he said.
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop said they already sent two surveillance planes to help the Army retake Marawi City, the Lanao del Sur capital in Mindanao.
“It is a very dangerous fight but Australia has already offered – and is supplying – support to the Philippines, and we stand ready to assist should they require more,” Bishop said.
“Obviously, we would be ready to support the Philippines in the same way we are supporting Iraq in advising, assisting and training, as the armed forces in the Philippines are in the process of engaging in a pretty brutal fight with Isis,” she added./PN
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