Diigo, February 1, 2002, BusinessWorld, Abu Sayyaf scourge to be eliminated US official,

Diigo, February 1, 2002, BusinessWorld, Abu Sayyaf scourge to be eliminated US official, 

ZAMBOANGA, Western Mindanao -- The United States and the Philippines yesterday launched joint military exercises to stamp out the Muslim extremist "scourge" in this country's south as America's war against terror expanded from Afghanistan. 

Armed Filipino soldiers stood beside sandbags at the gates of the Southern Command military headquarters in Zamboanga City as the exercises got under way in a simple ceremony attended by diplomats and senior military officers from the two allies. The tight security was apparently prompted by intelligence reports that unidentified groups planned to disrupt the controversial exercises. 

"We are here to launch a round of exercises and training designed to enhance the capabilities of both of our armed forces and to help the Armed Forces of the Philippines hone their skills to eliminate the Abu Sayyaf scourge," acting US Ambassador Robert Fitts told soldiers. It is "a scourge which has terrorized the population of the Sulu archipelago (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or ARMM) and has kidnapped and murdered Philippine citizens as well as those of other nations," Mr. Fitts added. 

The United States has linked the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network. The exercises, planned to last for at least six months, will involve about 3,800 Filipinos and some 600 Americans. About 160 US Special Forces soldiers will join Filipinos in training patrols in the jungles of mountainous Basilan island (Western Mindanao), where the Abu Sayyaf has been holding a US missionary couple and a Filipina nurse hostage for more than eight months. 

"There are some groups planning to disrupt the exercises but we will preempt that," operations officer Colonel Roland Detabali told reporters. He refused to elaborate. Just before the ceremonial opening got under way, about 30 protesters, chanting "Yankees, go home", burned the American flag in a noisy rally at the gates of the military headquarters. They shouted "Gloria US puppet" -- referring to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo -- and carried signs reading: "We need food, houses, not bombs" and "We need aid -- not AIDS." 

Ms. Macapagal-Arroyo's critics says the US troop presence violates the constitution which bars foreign combat forces from operating in the Philippines, a divisive issue in the former US colony. Manila insists the American troops are in the country only for a limited period and that they will not engage in combat. 

In Davao (Southern Mindanao, meanwhile, the local business community has formally expressed support for the Balikatan exercises. Romeo J. Serra, president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry said a random survey showed that 95% of its more than 200 members approved of the participation of US troops. 

He also noted that some local business leaders felt that "it was high time for (the Philippine government) to seek external help especially in the technical and logistical aspects (of military operation.)" "The business community in Davao City is praying for the prompt resolution of the Basilan crisis," he added. 

The exercises will begin with orientation sessions and lectures before US troops go to Basilan. The US troops will be deployed at the rear of Filipino- led patrols to minimize the risk of them encountering the Abu Sayyaf. The Americans will be armed, but will fire only in self-defense. The training will also involve nighttime fighting. Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes said the exercises would upgrade the skills of local troops in combatting terrorism. 

He said the US military presence had stirred up bitter debates, "but that is what democracy is all about." "All sides have been heard... It is now time to act." Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Cresencio Maralit, meanwhile, said 100 additional policemen were deployed in Zamboanga City. The additional police personnel will guard vital installations as well as foreign and local journalists covering the Balikatan exercises. 

"We just want to make sure that the area is secured... We are also discouraging not only foreign journalists but the local media as well not to go to (Abu Sayyaf) camps to get their interviews. We are asking them to coordinate with authorities," Mr. Maralit said. Other officials who attended the opening ceremonies were Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Diomedio Villanueva, Southern Command chief Lieutenant General Roy Cimatu, Balikatan co-exercise directors Brigadier General Donald Wurster and Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio, Press Secretary Noel Cabrera, Visiting Forces Agreement commissioner Ambassador Jaime Yamboa, Basilan Governor Ustadz Wahab Akbar, Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat, and Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat. 

Philippine Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jose Cristino Mabanta said locally developed unmanned surveillance planes will be deployed to help fight the Abu Sayyaf. He said four Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have been successfully completed by local engineers who started working on the project since 1993. "These (UAVs) will be a new capability for the Philippine Army. This is a Filipino ingenuity. We started to develop this in 1993. This has long been conceptualized," Mr. Mabanta said. -- Reuters with reports from Ruffy L. Villanueva and Hernani P. de Leon