Sulu, North Cotabato to host ‘Balikatan 03-1’

President Arroyo said yesterday she had approved the deployment of US troops to a stronghold of the Muslim Abu Sayyaf kidnap-for-ransom group in Sulu.

Speaking at an event to mark a World War II battle in Capas, Tarlac, Mrs. Arroyo said Sulu would be among areas to be covered by joint Philippine-US military exercises this year.

The annual exercises, known as "Balikatan" (Shoulder-to-Shoulder), were held last year in Basilan near Sulu.

"One of our weapons against terrorism is the skills of our soldiers which are being enhanced by exercises including the Balikatan. This year Balikatan will be held in some places, including Sulu," Mrs. Arroyo said in a speech remembering war heroes. "The province of Sulu is strategically important and that is why Balikatan will partly be held there."

The exercises will also be held in North Cotabato, she told reporters later in a press briefing.

Previous proposals to hold the exercises in Sulu have been met with opposition from local groups, including some Philippine officials.

There had also been technical disagreements between Manila and Washington over the rules or so-called terms of reference governing the exercises.

The planned exercise stirred controversy after unidentified Pentagon officials said in February that US troops would engage in combat against the Abu Sayyaf. Philippine officials quickly issued denials.

Under the 1987 Constitution, foreign troops cannot engage in combat in the country and American troops in previous exercises could only fire back in self-defense.

Mrs. Arroyo did not say how the disagreements had been resolved or when American soldiers would be sent to Sulu or how many would go there.

But she said the "anti-terrorism exercises will improve the capability of our soldiers to gain ground" in Sulu. The President made no mention of US soldiers engaging in combat.

"We acknowledge the opposition to this exercise. We shall take this into consideration," in forging the rules governing the deployment of the Americans, she said.

She said Sulu "is strategically important and that is why Balikatan will partly be held there," citing the continued activities of "terrorists," particularly in Sulu.

Despite opposition to the US deployment Mrs. Arroyo said: "The local governments want it and this is important for our national security. We are determined to cut down the entire body of terrorism in the country and the Sulu connection is vital to this objective."

Local Muslim groups opposed the joint exercises in Sulu because of memories of bitter clashes between Muslim fighters and US colonial troops in Sulu in the early 1900s.

Rep. Apolinario Lozada, chairman of the House foreign relations committee, suspected that US troops would still be sent after the Abu Sayyaf.

"It looks like the Americans will pursue their objective with or without the consent of the Filipino people in the same manner they invaded Iraq without the blessing of the United Nations," he said in an interview.

Sen. Juan Flavier said he will question the deployment because Sulu "is a combat zone." The exercises "should be done in an area where there is relative peace and it will not be complicated by any untoward incidents that may occur in a place like Sulu," he said.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel agreed. "I still maintain it is a bad idea because they could invite unfriendly fire from various rebel groups in Sulu," he said, citing the presence of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) forces in Sulu.

"I think the idea is to root out armed rebel groups in Sulu no matter who they are."

Although US troops would not be regarded as hostile, the MILF warned against US troop deployments in areas where the rebels have a presence to avoid untoward incidents. – With AFP, Paolo Romero, Jose Rodel Clapano