US spy gear lead to Abus

Aided by satellite data and other modern intelligence and surveillance equipment brought in by American forces, Philippine troops stepped up their offensive against Abu Sayyaf Islamists holding three hostages for nine months now in Basilan.

A Filipino soldier was wounded in a dawn clash yesterday near Tipo-Tipo town, bringing to four the number of Philippine troopers wounded in skirmishes over the weekend that left one soldier killed.

The firefight erupted after the troops intercepted an Abu Sayyaf radio message and an Army unit was deployed to track down the bandits.

Reports reaching the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Southern Command (Southcom) based in Zamboanga City indicated that the skirmishes inflicted a heavy toll on the Abu Sayyaf, although no exact figures of killed or wounded were given.

A Philippine military helicopter evacuated the wounded soldier in yesterday’s clash, while two other choppers attacked the bandits, who were reportedly led by a certain Amir Minkong — described by the military as a former commander of the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Southcom spokesman Capt. Noel Detoyato said none of the 160 United States special forces advising the Filipino soldiers in anti-terrorist operations were involved in the clashes.

Detoyato said the gunmen involved in the fighting were not from the faction of Abu Sabaya holding American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham of Wichita, Kansas and Filipina nurse Deborah Yap of Lamitan town in Basilan.

The Philippine troops, accompanied by their American advisers, were on a mission to seek out and prevent the Abu Sayyaf bandits from fleeing Basilan for surrounding islands and Zamboanga City.

Troops from the Army’s 32nd Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Col. Romeo Labrador stormed the Abu Sayyaf position in Sitio Tampat, Barangay Ginanta in Tipo-Tipo.

Col. Alexander Aleo, chief of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, said reinforcements from nearby 18th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Danny Lucero joined the fray, prompting the Abu Sayyaf to withdraw.

Aleo said the troops were inspired by the assistance being extended by their American trainers and advisers, as well as the capability to evacuate the wounded even at night.

"With the ability to conduct night medical evacuation, that has boosted their morale to go on with the offensive mission," Aleo said.

Basilan officials believed the increasing frequency of encounters was due to US spy planes flown over the island province to detect enemy positions.

Two versions of the spy planes, the Gnat unmanned aerial vehicle and the P-3 Orion, have been deployed to Mindanao by the US military.

Two US Pave Hawk helicopters evacuated on Saturday three wounded Filipino soldiers after a clash with Muslim extremists on Basilan that left one Filipino soldier dead.

It was the first time that US military advisers in the southern Philippines had a role, even indirect, in the Philippines’ war with Abu Sayyaf guerrillas who have been linked to the international al-Qaeda terrorist network.

The soldier was shot in a firefight on Friday night after a Philippine Army patrol chanced upon Abu Sayyaf rebels in Lantawan town on the jungle-clad island of Basilan, officials said.

Two Abu Sayyaf rebels were killed in another clash in nearby Sulu Saturday morning.

The Philippine military lacked night-flight capabilities and soldiers have often bled to death while waiting for morning evacuation. Military officials, impressed by the medical flights, said an ongoing US night-flight training mission can enhance their capability.

Detoyato said the two Pave Hawk helicopters flew to the war-torn island of Basilan late Friday after the ambush of the Army patrol. The Pave Hawks are a version of the popular US army Blackhawks.

The fighting had apparently subsided by the time the helicopters reached the site from their temporary base here.

Detoyato said the clash broke out before midnight in a jungle off Bolansa village in Lantawan town and the shooting lasted about 15 minutes.

US may send more troops to Basilan

The AFP confirmed yesterday a plan by the US to deploy another battalion to Mindanao as an engineering force that will implement certain infrastructure projects in the region.

AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan said the US military wants to set up a civil affairs unit that will pursue road development projects on the island.

"In principle, they want a civil affairs component which means construction of various engineering projects like roads and bridges. These will require additional personnel but not special forces," Adan said.

He clarified that the additional troops will not form part of the on-going joint military training exercise dubbed Balikatan 02-1.

"It must be another exercise and the name has not been firmed up. It is not yet even on the drawing board. We’re trying to determine how to go about it, what are the options to meet the objective of undertaking development projects without violating TOR (terms of reference) of Balikatan 02-1," Adan said.

Brig. Gen. Donald Wurster, head of the US contingent in Mindanao, also said he has heard about the plan to bring in more troops, but indicated nothing has been finalized.

"It will depend on which training module and what type of support the Philippine government would like to pursue," Wurster said. "It is up for your government to decide."

Meanwhile, the military Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) said it will stage a "grand protest" if the Arroyo administration allowed the entry of additional US troops.

"The US government only wants to bring in more armed and combat-ready civic action (troops)," a KMU statement said.

The statement also said the US was employing an old tactic it used in the ’60s during the Vietnam War — winning the hearts and minds of the people through socio-civic programs coupled with "lies and half-truths behind its real military, political and economic objectives." — With reports from Christina Mendez, Matthew Estabillo, AFP