MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 18, 2013) – The United States and the Philippines are to begin a joint search for the remains of about 80 American Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action in the Philippines.
The U.S. Embassy in Manila said the effort is led by the U.S. Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), based in Honolulu, whose humanitarian mission is to conduct global search, recovery, and laboratory operations to identify more than 83,000 unaccounted-for Americans from past conflicts.
Alongside Philippine partners, the JPAC team will be searching for evidence of Americans who remain unaccounted-for from World War II. A nine-member investigation team will work with Philippine partners to authenticate leads from eyewitnesses and conduct field research at numerous locations throughout the Philippines to determine whether a return visit for excavation is merited, the Embassy said.
“These investigations have the potential bring long desired closure for the families of American service members who went missing while serving their country in the Second World War We are truly grateful to our Philippine partners for working closely with us to facilitate this project,” Brian L. Goldbeck, Charge d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy, said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
The joint investigations follow the signing of a Statement of Intent on June 3, 2011 between the United States and the Philippines to collaborate in researching, investigating, recovering, and conducting forensic reviews of American POW and MIA remains.
As part of the agreement, JPAC personnel are required to respect all Philippine national and local laws and regulations, local customs, traditions and courtesies.
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