DAVAO CITY—The governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Wednesday said he welcomes the conduct of the RP-US Exercise Balikatan in the region, provided the organizers consult with regional officials.

The assurance came after those opposing the conduct of Balikatan demonstrated against the planned holding of the joint military exercise scheduled to start next week.

ARMM Gov. Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan al Haj, said he would not prevent the holding of Balikatan exercises if the US “first conducts consultation with the stakeholders in the region.”

“The entire autonomous region is thankful to the US government for its persistent conduct of humanitarian services, especially to poor and remote areas of the region. But we want respect. It is fair and right that we will discuss these things with our constituents before its conduct so that the people will not be aggrieved,” Ampatuan said.

The province of Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi are among the areas where the US and the Philippines agreed to hold Balikatan 2008 starting February 18, an ARMM statement said.

Last week, the ARMM’s Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) issued a resolution opposing the holding of the Balikatan exercises in Lanao del Sur and Marawi City.

RLA speaker Paislain Tago, al Haj, pointed out that “there was no consultation made in the regional, provincial, town and city levels before the final conduct of the exercise.”

RLA Resolution 353 adopted on February 5 said it would respect how residents of Lanao del Sur and Marawi City “strictly adhere to their Islamic faith, culture and tradition, thus they defy the conduct of the military exercise.” A US Embassy statement, however, identified only “Central and Western Mindanao, and the Sulu archipelago” as the areas where the 24th annual Balikatan exercise will be held.

It said, however, that there would be no military exercises but only “bilateral military humanitarian assistance and training activity.”

“Philippine and US members of the armed forces will conduct approximately 23 humanitarian-assistance projects. There will be no military exercises or war games conducted in Mindanao or Sulu,” the embassy statement said.

“Approximately 600 US troops will work with civilian authorities and the Philipine Armed Forces in these regions on humanitarian projects. The RP-US teams will offer free medical, dental and veterinary care. They will also construct and repair schools and other community infrastructures in areas of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago that are in great need of assistance.”

It added: “The majority of US personnel are construction engineers and medical specialists. They will be working side-by-side with their Philippine military counterparts who will be in charge of all projects.”

Also last week in Marawi City, the newly-created Ranao Crescent Against Balikatan Exercises, organized a protest rally at the public plaza at Banggolo. It was attended by religious leaders, women clad in black, and even representatives from the local governments.

Mayor Fahad Salic and the City Council had passed a resolution urging President Arroyo to “refrain from implementing the Balikatan exercises.”

Lanao del Sur Gov. Mohammad Khalid Mamintal Adiong also said that the provincial government would take the same stand.

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DAVAO CITY—The governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Wednesday said he welcomes the conduct of the RP-US Exercise Balikatan in the region, provided the organizers consult with regional officials.