Philippine Civic Action Group
Filipino civic minded groups led by the Philippine Jaycees joined "Operation Brotherhood" to help in the refugee crisis in South Vietnam.
[5][7] Lansdale also organized for the Vietnamese leadership to send military officers from the ARVN to the Philippines for them to see Magsaysay administration's success in fighting the communist HUKBALAHAP.
ECoy would be headed by Col. Frisco San Juan, and would receive contracts wherein Vietnamese talent pool was not able to produce the technical staff to maintain and operate American made equipment.
As the US involvement from military advisory role became deeper, this has pushed the US Army to actual combat against North Vietnamese forces and the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam or commonly known as Viet Cong.
While South Vietnam was not a member of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), Johnson wanted the military alliance to play its part in the conflict, however there was lack of cooperation by the France and United Kingdom.
The Congress of the Philippines passed Republic Act 4162, approving the request and authorizing the President to send aid and support to South Vietnam.
Apart from civic military operations, the mission also included 16 Psychological Warfare Officers who arrived on August 16, 1964, were assigned to the III Corps in Binh Duong, Gia Dinh and Long An.
Ferdinand Marcos requested from the Congress to appropriate funds for a 2nd contingent, and Republic Act 6446 was passed and signed on July 14, 1966, with an authorized budget of PhP 35 million.
Johnson agreed to equip 3 engineering battalions, provide 2 anti-smuggling vessels for the Philippine Navy, and cover the allowances of the Filipino contingent.
On November 3, the 9th Division of the Viet Cong and elements of the People Army of Vietnam commenced their attack on the Tay Ninh Combat Base.
[5] Marcos meanwhile was playing both sides, currying the favor of the Johnson, and on the other hand tasked Gen. Tobias to contact the National Front for the Liberation of Vietnam and explain the Philippines' position in the war.
Frederick C. Weyand, who headed the operations in Tay Ninh, received intelligence of this PHILCAG secret mission, and were disappointed over the Philippine action to contact the Viet Cong.
Westmoreland also raised the possibility of PHILCAG being expanded, and in return the US can supply and train a squadron of the Philippine Air Force to utilize the UH-1D Iroquois for their civic action operations in South Vietnam.
[15] On July 16, 1967, Marcos visits Saigon and reiterated the direction of the Philippines in helping Vietnam in developing its countryside, and that PHILCAG was a "mission of peace."
This also included the suspension of the US military aid to the AFP, as well as cancelation of any procurement activities done in the Philippines by the Department of Defense for its efforts in Vietnam.
[18][2] The AFP Museum in Camp Aguinaldo states during its mobilization the PHILCAG in Vietnam constructed 116.4 kilometers of roads, 11 bridges, 169 buildings, 10 towers, 7 schools, 194 culverts and 54 refugee centers.
As part of the Miscellaneous Environmental Improvements Program, it rehabilitated, repaired or undertook minor construction work on 2 airstrips; 94 kilometers of roads; 47 buildings; 12 outposts; and 245 wells.
While the United States provided the logistical requirements, transport, equipping 3 engineering battalions, as well as 2 anti-smuggling patrol ships, the scandal that rocked the administration was on the arrangement that the American taxpayers were shouldering the combat pay or per diem of Filipino soldiers who volunteered to go to South Vietnam.
