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January 19, 2002, Philippine Daily Inquirer, US troops covered by VFA-DOJ, by Norman Bordadora and Carlito Pablo,

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VFA

January 19, 2002, Philippine Daily Inquirer, US troops covered by VFA-DOJ, by Norman Bordadora and Carlito Pablo,

THE PRESENCE of US Special Forces in Basilan is consistent with the Constitution and the provisions of the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement and Mutual Defense Treaty, Justice Undersecretary Manuel Teehankee said yesterday.

But Teehankee told reporters at a press briefing that it would be up to the National Security Council to clear the air regarding constitutional issues and legal concerns when it convenes to discuss the Balikatan exercise dubbed "Kalayaan-Aguila 2002" next week.

He said the use of US military personnel in going after the Abu Sayyaf was covered by the VFA, the constitutionality of which the Supreme Court had affirmed.

Teehankee also said it would not be possible for the government to be entirely transparent regarding the Balikatan exercise because "the matter concerns tactical and strategic operations."

For all that, National Security Adviser Roilo Golez admitted that the military campaign against the Abu Sayyaf would not be a walk in the park despite the active role to be played by more than 600 US military personnel, including the elite Green Berets.

"The Abu Sayyaf is a highly motivated adversary. You have to respect their fighting capability," he said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC).

Golez said that while the Abu Sayyaf strength was estimated to have dropped to about 100, including those holding hostage American couple Martin and Gracia Burnham and Filipino nurse Deborah Yap, the armed group was expected to put up a tough fight.

"The terrain is in their favor, and this situation requires the capability of the Green Berets," he said.

Golez said 160-200 Green Berets would be deployed at the "rear" of combat sorties in Basilan, where about 5,000-7,000 Filipino soldiers had been thrown into action against the Abu Sayyaf.

"It's not exactly the frontlines but toward the rear," he said.

Golez said in a separate interview over radio station dzMM that it was the Green Berets "who will go with us to Basilan."

Teehankee acknowledged the "unique confluence" of military interests with the Balikatan exercise.

"The United States is continuing the war against international terrorism that it started in Afghanistan, while the Philippines wants to solve the Abu Sayyaf problem once and for all,"
 he said.

The US government has listed the Abu Sayyaf as a satellite organization of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network.

The Balikatan exercise-which is to feature "test missions" aimed at stamping out the Abu Sayyaf and rescuing its hostages-is scheduled to start next month.

Sen. Robert Barbers yesterday threw his support behind the deployment of US troops in Mindanao, saying the safe rescue of the hostages far outweighed some people's fears that the deployment was a violation of the Constitution.

"I welcome the American forces to the Philippines," he said. "What is more important now-sovereignty or the lives of our people in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf?"

Positioning

Some 110 US military personnel will be stationed at the headquarters of the Armed Forces' Southern Command in Zamboanga City to give training and advice on command and control, communications and logistics.

A group of more than 100 US soldiers will train two Light Reaction Companies (LRC) at the Malagutay area in Zamboanga City, which will also be deployed later in Basilan.

According to Golez, the training of one LRC-with emphasis on special operations like night fighting-takes four to five months.

The first Philippine LRC, which was trained last year also by US forces, is now deployed in Basilan.

Another group of 200 US servicemen will be stationed at the Air Force Base in Mactan, Cebu, where air strikes will be mapped out to support ground troops.

"The envisioned end result is zero Abu Sayyaf," Golez said.

Golez skirted the question on whether US forces would remain in the country for as long as the Abu Sayyaf had not been wiped out.

Instead, he said US military personnel would be here for at least six months, and their stay might be 
"extended based on requirements."

Golez, however, asserted that the Abu Sayyaf strength would be reduced "very dramatically in the next few months" with the help of US forces.

He stressed that US involvement in the campaign against the Abu Sayyaf would be different compared to the situation in Afghanistan: "There won't be smart bombs and a lot of American forces."

In his interview over dzMM, Golez said US forces had the right to defend themselves if attacked.

"What we're saying is that just in case they are cornered and fired at, they have the right, and they don't need to seek approval, to defend themselves," he said.

Balance Piston

The close to 400 US soldiers who have arrived at the Clark Special Economic Zone are not bound for Zamboanga City for the Balikatan exercise.

"All troops at Clark are under Balance Piston," said Maj. Kevin Coyler, US joint mission commander of the month-long training.

The four-week Balance Piston involves 35 US soldiers and is aimed at enhancing "small-unit tactics" and the "interoperability" between US and Filipino infantrymen, Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Jose Mabanta Jr. said in Manila.

"Unlike Balikatan, it is held several times a year. Last year, four such exercises were held," Mabanta said.

He added that Balance Piston would be held in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija and Camp Tecson in Bulacan.

US Embassy press attache Karen Kelly told the INQUIRER by telephone that there were "no indications that (the US troops in Clark) are participating in other exercises except in Balance Piston."

"I am not aware if they're going to Mindanao," she added.

Wire reports had said about 250 US soldiers in Clark were headed for the Balikatan war games in Zamboanga City and Jolo.

The Balance Piston training began yesterday in Fort Magsaysay.

Maj. Allan Ballesteros, public information officer of the Clark-based 600th Air Base Wing that was hosting the US contingent, agreed to the observation of reporters that the ongoing Balance Piston exercises involved a bigger number of US military personnel.

Coyler did not explain the basis for the increase in the number of US participants.

The last such exercise in July last year involved about 150 troops, according to previous statements from the Presidential Commission on the VFA.

No attacks

Eid Kabalu, spokesperson of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, yesterday told Agence France Presse that they would not attack American troops engaged in the Balikatan exercise.

"They (American soldiers) are not our enemies," Kabalu said. "The pronouncement of Malacanang is that if the Americans ever use their arms, it would be trained on the Abu Sayyaf. We are assuring them we will not attack US troops."

Kabalu said Manila had assured them that the Americans would not be "directly involved in combat fighting," and that the target was the Abu Sayyaf and not the MILF.

However, he noted that the 12,500-strong MILF had camps scattered in some remote areas in Basilan, and that a potential misencounter could occur between their forces and Filipino soldiers accompanied by US soldiers.

"We will maintain our defensive mode," Kabalu said. "We will return fire if attacked-that is basic. But we hope we will not come to that point."

Last year the separatist group began peace talks with the government and signed a ceasefire deal. But sporadic skirmishes between the two forces have persisted.

The AFP, however, has accused the MILF of giving sanctuary to Abu Sayyaf gunmen on the run from a massive military operation in Basilan-a charge denied by the separatist group. With reports from Martin P. Marfil and TJ Burgonio in Manila; Tonette Orejas, PDI Central Luzon Desk

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