Australia offers to help military

Philippines on Wednesday welcomed Australia’s offer to train government troops to fight against Daesh terror acts,.

“The offer of Australia to train the Armed Forces of the Philippines is most welcome. The fight against terrorism – to reiterate — is not only the concern of the Philippines, but it is a concern of many nations around the world,” said presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella in a statement quoted by Inquirer online.

“The Philippines has in many occasions expressed its willingness to receive assistance from foreign countries if they offer it,” Abella added.

Abella however clarified that assistance from foreign countries is “limited to technical matters, training and information gathering and sharing” as Philippines’ law prohibits the direct participation of foreign troops in combat operations.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop revealed Canberra’s offer to advise, train and assist the Philippine military in the same manner as they are assisting Iraq.

The Australian government early this month earmarked $20 million worth of aid which would be given over the next four years for the nearly 400,000 people displaced by the ongoing clashes in Marawi, aside from the $920,000 aid in food and other supplies announced last June.

Canberra also sent two spy planes to assist the government forces in its fight in Marawi.

Militants from the Maute group and Abu Sayyaf seized Marawi on the southern island of Mindanao on May 23, which prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to impose martial law in the island of Mindanao which is not set to lapse until the year’s end.