U.S. suspends joint exercises

U.S. suspends joint exercises

MANILA (AFP): The United States has suspended joint military exercises and port calls by its ships in the Philippines since Manila cannot guarantee protection for U.S. personnel, a Filipino senator said yesterday.

Senate foreign relations committee chairman Blas Ople in a statement said the issue was discussed in a meeting he had with U.S. Ambassador Thomas Hubbard on Thursday.

Last month in a mutual defense board meeting held here, the U.S. threatened to boycott joint exercises if Manila refused to grant immunity from criminal liability to participating soldiers.

The Philippines and the U.S. are bound by a treaty according to which each side can help the other in case of an external attack.