By Jaime Laude
MANILA, Philippines — Visiting Australian Defense Minister Marise Payne disclosed on Friday that Australia would send troops to assist Philippine forces in the ongoing battle against Islamic State (IS)-inspired terrorists in Marawi City.
Small contingents of Australian soldiers will be sent to train Filipino troops, Payne said during a press conference with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
“We are very committed to supporting the Philippines in its efforts to defend itself against terrorist threats,” Payne said.
“This is a threat to the region (that) we all need to work together to defeat.”
Lorenzana welcomed the offer of Australia to train Filipino soldiers to combat terrorism.
“I think it doesn’t matter really if they give us those token force but the effect of the kind of help that they give us is enormous. I think that’s what we need to talk about…bigger involvement or support from Australia,” Lorenzana said.
But he stressed that when the Australian soldiers are in the country, they will be staying inside military camps and will not be allowed to engage in actual fighting.
Payne and Lorenzana discussed various security issues in the region, including the brewing tension brought about by the threat from North Korea and the ongoing terrorist atrocities in Marawi City.
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