MANILA - A Congressional Delegation led by Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and including Reps Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) and Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) today concluded a two-day visit to the Philippines. During their visit, the delegation met with Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, General Carlito Galvez and Undersecretary for National Defense for the Philippines Cardozo Luna. The delegation also visited Camp Navarro in Zamboanga City where they were briefed by US forces on joint US / Philippine counterterrorism operations. The delegation laid a wreath at the Manila American Cemetery, one of the largest WWII era American cemeteries in the world.
Departing the Philippines, Thornberry said:
“One only has to visit the Manila American Cemetery to be reminded why the bonds of friendship between the United States and the Philippines are so deep. When you visit our troops working hand in hand with their Philippine counterparts to fight ISIS affiliates, you see that our seventy-year alliance is enduring. No matter how deep the natural bonds run, these alliances and partnerships in the region need to be nurtured. To me, that has to include more military-to-military exchanges with partner countries, providing critical counter terrorism and military support for allies like the Philippines, and a clear American commitment that we are in the Indo-Pacific to stay.”
Laying a wreath at the Manila American Cementary.
The delegation visits with U.S. forces stationed in the Philippines.
