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January 3, 2002, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Marines out; US-trained unit to rescue hostages, by Arlyn dela Cruz, and Martin Marfil,

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January 3, 2002, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Marines out; US-trained unit to rescue hostages, by Arlyn dela Cruz, and Martin Marfil, 

BECAUSE "nothing has happened" to their rescue of the remaining hostages of the Abu Sayyaf, Philippine Marines stationed in Basilan will be redeployed to Sulu.

Within the next 48 hours at least two companies of Marines are scheduled to be pulled out of Basilan.

By the second week of January, the entire brigade of the Philippine Marines in Basilan will be out of there and transferred to Sulu.

The pullout of the Marines gives a new twist to the military operations to rescue the American missionary couple, Martin and Gracia Burnham and Filipina nurse, Deborah Yap.

Three Philippine Army Brigades composed mostly of Scout Ranger companies and the Light Reaction Unit trained by the US Delta Force will replace the Marines.

The Southern Command sees a better need for the Marines in Sulu because of threats from the Misuari Renegade Forces (MRF). The Scout Rangers who are trained for jungle warfare will be given the upperhand in the rescue operations.

The redeployment of the Marines was decided after a "critique" of the rescue operations during a joint command conference last Dec. 28, 2001 held in Basilan.

"They (the Marines) have been given a chance to implement the rescue operations since the hostages are in their area of operation but nothing happened," according to an officer of the Southern Command.

Right track

But a Marine officer countered that they "are on the right track and that given the opportunity, we will be able to not just rescue the hostages but to also neutralize the Abu Sayyaf especially the unit led by Isnilon Hapilon."

For the last one month, the group led by Hapilon who is in physical control of the hostages has been in the general area of Maluso and Sumisip, an area which is under the Marine Brigade in Basilan.

The Marine officer said," we have actually pinpointed the area where they are keeping the hostages."

Through the help of a civilian asset in Maluso, the Marines monitored several independent negotiations going on related to the release of the hostages.

But the Marines' failure to proceed with the "big push" is hampered by their having to clear their every move with the Southcom.

But a source from the Southern Command explains that this is exactly the reason the Marines will have to be pulled out of Basilan.

But a US congressman from Kansas, the home state of the Burnhams, is "satisfied" with the military's rescue efforts, according to Press Undersecretary Bobby Capco.

President Macapagal-Arroyo met with US Rep. Todd Thiart of Kansas on Tuesday night at the Palace.

"It was our impression that the congressman was satisfied with the explanations of the government especially when he was told that 43 officers and enlisted personnel have been killed in the campaign against the Abu Sayyaf," Capco said.

Politics

A separate report also critical of the Marines claimed that some officers in Basilan had become "too friendly" with the Abu Sayyaf. The same report stated that "supplies were channeled to the Abu Sayyaf" allegedly facilitated by the Marines.

But another Marine colonel based in Tumahubong says, "Napulitika lang kami. Hindi nabigyan ng chance ang diskarte namin. (Politics did us in. Our strategy was not given a chance.)"

Sources from the Southern Command say, the reason for the pullout is "tactical and operational in nature."

But Marine sources say they believe otherwise. This is not an ordinary operational and tactical move, they say.

Protesting civilians

The first two Marine companies to go are led by Lieutenant Colonels Jun de Leon and Armand Banez.

Some 500-civilians in Tumahubong protested the Southcom decision to replace the Marines with Scout Rangers.

The rally calling for the retention of the Marines was held on New Year's Eve.

The protesters composed of NGOs and local officials were led by the parish priest of Maluso. They said they are cooperating with the Marines because the "Marines understand the dynamics on how it is to live in an area where there are armed bandits like the Abu Sayyaf."

As the protest was taking place, trucks of Marine personnel were making their way toward the capital city of Isabela en route to Zamboanga aboard a navy ship.

Some even carried placards saying, "Huwag ninyo kaming iwan." (Don't leave us.)

But the decision is final, the Marines' time in Basilan is over.

More equipment from US

The military wants more US equipment for its operation against the Abu Sayyaf.

According to Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Jose Mabanta, the military operation against the bandit group continues but they need to upgrade their "target acquisition assets" and night-fighting capability to counter the difficult terrain in Mindanao.

"What we have mostly are first-generation equipment," Mabanta told defense reporters.

Elite Army units, Mabanta said, have night-vision and thermal-imaging equipment but these are older models.

These units have been deployed against the Abu Sayyaf.

His remarks came a day after Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu revealed that he had talked to US Rep. Todd Tiahrt about the need for unmanned surveillance equipment.

The US government has committed more than $100 million in military assistance for this year.

Five helicopters, equipped with night-fighting capability, are due to arrive this month.

Earlier, a C-130 military cargo plane, a gunboat, three other Huey helicopters, trucks and high-powered rifles were delivered to the military as part of the military assistance.

A training camp, to be run jointly by Filipino and American officials, is being set up in Zamboanga City.

The training, officials said earlier, would focus on anti-terrorism as part of the US commitment to fight international terrorism worldwide. With a report from Dona Pazzibugan

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