Troops confident of continung fight vs terrorists

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Despite the downsizing of operation of the US-Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines, a senior military official said the troops remain confident that they are capable of neutralizing the  al-Qaeda linked Abu Sayyaf group.

Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, commanding general of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the military troops have been equipped and prepared as part of the transition process following deactivation of the JSOTF-P, a US military unit representing the Pacific Command (PACOM) to help the local forces battle terror activities.

“We significantly upgraded our capability over the years and it is a continuing effort of the AFP to improve our equipment. This is our transition to an eventual reduction of their presence,” Guerrero said.

However, Guerrero said the sufficiency of training support can not be quantified citing that even “local troops also come and go and training is needed all of the time” to maintain the unit's capability.

“So we welcome any assistance that would increase our chances of success in any given operation,” Guerrero added.

Police and military claimed that the strength of the Abu Sayyaf group has dwindled to about 300 militants following the 2001 Sipadan kidnappings when its strength swelled to about a 1,000 with recruits lured by hefty pay cut from the huge ransom  the group amassed from keeping 19 foreigners – nine Malaysians and 10 Europeans – it seized in Sipadan off Sabah and brought to Sulu.

A local official in Sulu said the number of the Abu Sayyaf strength has remained despite the neutralization of a number of its top leaders in more than a decade of military operations and surgical strike aided technically by the US military both in Basilan and Sulu.

The military, however, said the capability of Abu Sayyaf terror group to stage hard attacks, like bombings, has weakened  with the continuous  military operation. The terrorists, on the other hand, continued their so-called “soft attack” by staging kidnap for ransom activities and increasing their kidnapping cells that operate in southern Philippines and in nearby Sabah.

The JSOFT-P was set up 2002 with its main base stationed inside the Westmincom in Camp Don Basilio Navarro in Upper Calarian following the successful staging of the joint Balikatan (shouldering efforts) 2001 with US military providing technical and training assistance to rescue two of the three captive American citizens by the Abu Sayyaf group.

The JSOTF-P was also part of the Bush administration’s effort to address the terrorists outside US territory to prevent any attack on American territory following the deadly September 11, 2001 terror attack.

In their initial deployment in southern Philippines, more than a dozen of US servicemen were also killed, including eight crewmen and two passengers of a MH-47E Chinook helicopter that crashed off Negros Oriental on Feb. 22, 2002 which came from a mission in Basilan. Two other US Special Forces were also killed in a bomb attack in the same year just outside the training camp in Zamboanga City. A deadly road bombing in Sulu province also killed two US servicemen in September 2009.

But no one was reported killed in direct encounter with the Abu Sayyaf group as the American troops were not allowed to participate in direct combat under the Philippine laws.

There was no immediate information on when deactivation of the JSOTF-P will take place or whether a formal ceremony will be held to honor the US Special Forces who assisted and trained their local counterpart to enhance their capabilities in the war against terror.

Guerrero  also declined to divulge the decommissioning schedule of the JSOTF-P.

Local soldiers have observed that inside Westmincom, the number of the US military presence has been reduced. Under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), the US military was allowed to deploy about 600 of its contingent and  in  a six-month rotation basis of tour of duty.

Guerrero, however,  said that during the 12 years of the US military presence here, the JSOTF-P was very supportive of  local military efforts in addressing terrorism in Mindanao by providing training;  helping in  humanitarian mission such as medical support;  funded numerous projects for various communities in conflict areas, including Sulu, Basilan, and even in Central Mindanao areas. - Roel Pareño