US troops will continue with their civic mission in Capiz despite the threat posed by the New People’s Army.

“There’s no problem with the medical mission,” Capt. Renante Besa, 3rd Infantry Divison information officer, told The News Today yesterday, as he downplayed the order of the Communist Party of the Philippines for the NPA to conduct offensives against Balance Piston 09-1 in Jamindan, Capiz.

Last week, two units from the NPA figured in a misencounter in Brgy. Buri in Tapaz town. The military said that they were on their way to harass the training exercises.

Besa said that the 31 US trainers conducting the training will also be joining the medical-dental mission to be held in Brgys. Agloloway and Jaena Sur in Jamindan town.

Security for the US troops have already been arranged with the Philippine National Police and Jamindan Mayor Ethel Jinon, who will also be joining the civic mission, he said.

Likewise, barangay officials and residents in the area are helping the Armed Forces of the Philippines monitor the presence of NPA rebels, he added.

“We also constantly conduct security patrols in said barangay,” Besa said. The barangays where the medical-dental mission will be held are situated in the periphery of Camp Macario Peralta, where the joint military exercises are held.

“So I believe there would be no problem,” he stressed. “That is why security is not a problem.”

The threats, he said, are ‘usual’ and ‘expected.’

“Training is (going) smoothly as planned. We are prepared for whatever threat,” he said.

About 141 troops from the Army’s 3ID are involved in the joint military exercise, which will run until February 20. Balance Piston 09-1 involves 11 training events, which includes civic action programs.