US top military officer meets with Aquino, AFP chief of staff

MANILA -- US General Martin Dempsey, head of the US joint chiefs of staff, on Monday separately met with President Benigno Aquino III and his counterpart in the Philippine military and discussed a wide range of topics including the West Philippine Sea and the ongoing standoff at Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal with China.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Jessie Dellosa and Gen. Dempsey held a closed-door meeting Monday following the Shangri-La talks in Singapore last June 1 to 3.

AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos said the meeting was part of the mutual defense treaty and aims to enhance bilateral relations between the two countries. The agenda include information exchange on global and regional issues. Among the topics to be discussed in the meeting are the West Philippine Sea and Mindanao security.

"The meeting underscores the importance of the AFP as being an ally of the United States," Burgos said.

"With or without the Scarborough standoff, this is part of our mutual defense treaty and to enhance bilateral relations," he added.

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Abigail Kwok | InterAksyon.com | June 4, 2012 | Article Link