The Philippine government Monday prohibited U.S. troops from joining soldiers on combat patrols during counterterrorism exercises planned for later this year on Jolo, a southern island where Muslim militants are active. The ban marks a change from last year, when American soldiers joined Filipino army units on combat patrols during similar exercises on nearby Basilan island. Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes said the new policy is meant to “emphasize that it will be the Filipino soldiers who should be doing the fighting.” Philippine officials fear U.S. troops could be drawn into skirmishes, violating a constitutional ban on foreigners fighting in the former U.S. colony. Full Story
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