Manila, Aug. 18 -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Tuesday the departure of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) from the Pacific will not affect any planned activities between Filipino and American military units.

"(As) far as the Philippines is concerned, the movement of a carrier battle group from INDOPACOM (Indo-Pacific Command) to the Middle East will not affect the MDB-SEB (Mutual Defense Board - Security Engagement Board) activities for this year. In fact, we are already in the middle of the year, we're past the middle of the year. A lot of the activities have already been conducted," AFP spokesperson for the WPS, Navy reservist Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, said in a press briefing in Camp Agui...