AFP: US Navy plane’s patrol over Marawi part of existing defense deals

The aerial patrol of a US surveillance aircraft in Marawi City was part of the country's existing defense agreements with the United States, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Eduardo Año said on Sunday.

Año made the remark amid the sighting of a US Navy P-3 Orion, a four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft, above the conflict zone in Marawi City.

Año said the aircraft was only performing "agreed to action activities" stated in the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) signed by the Philippines and the US in the 1951.

"We have 60 agreements with the US, the MDT, and within that agreement we have agreed to action activities—'yan more than 200 plus actions 'yan all-year round," the AFP chief said at a news conference.

"Nagkataon lang na mayroong Marawi incident tayo ngayon pero yung pag-fly ng P-3 Orion part ng activities 'yan all over the country, up to the West Philippine Sea, in order to provide us assistance or pictures na makakatulong sa atin," Año added.

On Saturday, the US government confirmed that its troops have started helping the Philippine military in battling the Maute group and other local terrorists in Marawi City.

1st Infantry Battalion spokesperson Lt. Col. Jo-Ar Herrera later clarified that the US support was limited to "technical support."

On Sunday, President Rodrigo Duterte said he had not been aware that the US had been lending support to the troops in Marawi, though Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella later affirmed that the actions were indeed part of the "standing protocols" under the Mutual Defense Treaty.

All-Filipino

Meanwhile, Western Mindanao Command chief Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. said that despite receiving technical assistance from their American allies, military operations on the ground remain "all-Filipino."

Galvez said the role of the US assistance was more "confirmatory."

"Ang operations natin sa Marawi is basically all-Filipino 'yan," Galvez said. "Ang sa US, mayroon silang tinatawag na some sort of tinatawag na confirmatory, pero yung lahat ng ginagawa natin sa taas... Pilipino lahat 'yun."

He added that the materials gathered by the P-3 Orion cannot be given to the AFP immediately until it secures approvel from US military leaders.

Galvez said they have been conducting its own surveillance missions in Marawi City against the Maute group through equipment procured by the AFP.

"Mayroon tayo dito na ginawa at dito na na-procure, so ang contribution ng US is more on training at saka technical assistance. But basically lahat ng operational matters sa amin yun, walang Amerikanong involved," Galvez said. — Joseph Tristan Roxas/BM, GMA News