(13 Apr 1996) English/Nat
Advance preparations are well underway in the Philippines for the 18-nation Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit which the country will host in November.
Security is one of the top priorities for the hosts and the Philippine Air Force has been conducting anti-terrorist training.
The "sky warriors" of the Philippine Air Force abseil down from helicopters in response to a simulated terrorist attack.
They surround a target house - taking position ready for assault.
The house is blasted, and when the smoke clears, the soldiers emerge with arrested "terrorists" in tow.
The exercise is designed to demonstrate what 19 officers and 167 enlisted men of the Air Force have learnt during a ten-week training programme known as the Counter Urban Terrorist Operation Course (CUTOC.)
The course has been carried out in preparation for the Asia Pacific Economic forum which the Philippines will host in November.
Philippine Air Force Chief, Lieutenant. General Arnulfo Acedera handed out certificates to the officers and men to mark the completion of their course on Friday.
They will now return to their respective units to become trainers and join some 700 members of the elite 710th Special Operations Wing.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
The country is going to host APEC therefore I see the time, the opportunity to put in place, even a better trained...CUTOC-trained Air Force in order to assist the national leadership in this forthcoming APEC.
SUPER CAPTION: General Arnulfo Acedera, Commanding General, Philippine Air Force
Soldiers who took part say it was not easy, but they realize the importance and the necessity of such hard training.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
The training is very challenging and very hard, commensurate to the needs to have a fighting force for the terrorism.
SUPER CAPTION: Captain Manolo Dionisio, Philippine Air force CUTOC trainee
Friday's graduation ceremonies in Clark Air Force Base in Pampanga, including a "show of force" parade by members of the Air Force.
With just seven more months to go before APEC, Acedera is confident his men will be ready to provide security support and backup for the government and arriving heads of state.
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