US troops want to join search for Burnhams

ZAMBOANGA CITY — American military advisers said they are interested in joining Filipino troopers in operations to rescue their two compatriots and a Filipina nurse who are being held captive by Abu Sayyaf extremists since late May.

But US Army Lt. Col. John Christian, of the Joint US Military Advisory Group (JUSMAG) and chief of the 15-man "Delta Force" team that arrived here for the weekend, stressed that they were here only to "train, assist and advise" their Filipino counterparts.

"This is a general engagement. Of course, we’re very interested from the US government’s standpoint," Christian said, shortly before his team returned to Manila.

"This is just looking at ways to train, assist and advise the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in their effort to rescue the Burnham couple and take care of the Abu Sayyaf group," he added.

Christian acknowledged, however, that there were difficulties in fighting the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan.

"It’s a difficult problem," the colonel said. "The geography, the various social issues make it a difficult problem for anyone. That is why we got to work together as best as we can to try to solve the problem."

Christian said the increased US assistance was the result of the recent meeting of President Arroyo and US President George W. Bush in Washington where they discussed security issues, especially the fight against terrorism.

As part of their visit, the team of US military advisers assessed the suitability of training a special anti-terror force in Zamboanga City which is close to the haunts of various armed groups.

"We are looking at pieces of material, intelligence and operational assistance being provided to the (AFP) Southern Command," Christian said.

One of their tasks is the training of another batch of special forces to augment the US-trained Light Reaction Company (LRC) that was deployed to Basilan in September and has since been scoring notable victories.

The latest encounter involving the LRC and the Abu Sayyaf resulted in the capture of one and the death of 11 extremists in Barangay Makiri, near Basilan’s capital of Isabela City on Friday.

Southcom deputy chief for operations, Marine Col. Francisco Gudani, said the US team is considering the military camps in Malagutay, the Southcom headquarters and the Edwin Andrews Air Base as a training camp site for the special forces.

Gudani revealed the US team has also pledged to donate excess hospital equipment which will supposedly come from an American foundation and donated to private hospitals in Zamboanga and Basilan.

Meanwhile, police said the 73 Abu Sayyaf extremists and supporters who were arrested in a military dragnet three months ago have been flown to Manila for trial.

Regional jail director Senior Superintendent Cezar Tan said the 73 would be held at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig pending their trial.

"They will stay there. The prison is fortified and there is no chance for them to escape," Tan said as heavily armed policemen and jail guards escorted the 73 arrested men to a C-130 plane en route to Manila.

The 73 were arrested in a crackdown on the Abu Sayyaf in May and are being charged with illegal possession of firearms, kidnapping and rebellion.