February 14, 2002, The Philippine Star, President accepts US military apology for "gun-toting" soldiers,

February 14, 2002, The Philippine Star, President accepts US military apology for "gun-toting" soldiers,

President Arroyo has accepted the formal apologies made by US military officials for the gun-toting US soldiers in Zamboanga City.

President Arroyo told reporters that the US military command in Zamboanga City has apologized for the incident after Armed Forces chief Gen Diomedio Villanueva called their attention it.

This incident significantly marks the start of the joint military exercises, Balikatan [Shoulder to Shoulder] 02-1, between the Philippines and the US tomorrow. Villanueva is the designated overall commander of the exercises.

Malacanang [presidential offices] had expressed its displeasure over the photos of armed US soldiers in civilian clothes walking around Zamboanga City in Mindanao, which later appeared in major dailies today.

The president, however, failed to say if the specific actions taken by the US make up for the incident.