US TROOPS NEAR STRIKE ZONES: ISABELA CITY, Basilan—Forward observers, among
them US troops, are in place in what have been designated as "strike zones"
in this island- province, an intelligence source said yesterday.
Forward observers call in air strikes and coordinate artillery attacks on
enemy positions.
US forces participating in Balikatan yesterday began fanning out to various
Philippine units as the training exercise got into high gear.
"Placement insertions have already commenced," a veteran operative intelligence
with more than two decades of experience told media.
Under Balikatan’s Terms of Reference (TOR), US forces are assigned to
brigade-level units and could join battalion-level operations as observers,
trainors and advisers.
They are not allowed to operate on their own.
At least eight US Special Forces officers and 22 enlisted personnel were
flown in yesterday by Chinook helicopters from Camp Gen. Arturo Enrile in
Malagutay Village on the outskirts of Zamboanga City.
Marine Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio, exercise coordinator, said 140 US Special
Forces might be deployed in Basilan, instead of the planned 160 American
troopers, because the Joint Task Force Comet has been transferred from the
island-province to Zamboanga City.
Teodosio said the US Team would report to the Task Group Thunder and Task
Group Gentle Wind, the Army units tasked to neutralize the Abu Sayyaf.
Critics of Balikatan claim the exercise will go beyond mere training and
is a disguised operation to wipe out the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan.
The Army’s 103rd Brigade Commander, Col. Alexander Aleo, disputes this.
He said there is a clear difference between forces involved in Balikatan
and the military operations against the Abu Sayyaf, which has been holding
an American couple and a Filipino nurse as hostages.
Teodosio, however, said the insertion teams for groups tasked to track
down the Abu Sayyaf, have been pre-divided into several Alpha teams. All
in all, there would be 12 Alpha teams and 36 Filipino teams, he said.
In military parlance, Alpha teams are primary combat personnel.
Most civilians here think otherwise.
"If they were only trainors why they are fully armed and equipped for combat?"
said Rene Alburo, an insurance agent in Lamitan town. "Not that we mind. If
the Americans can do what our own military cannot do, then let them do it."
Alton Ramirez, who farms near the 103rd Brigade headquarters likened the
situation to a war movie. "They (Americans) will only strike at right when
nobody can see them."
In a phone interview with Frederick Obado, Inter-Pacific Political Analysis
Center (IPAC) in Oakland, California, reporters gained some insight into the
role of the 1st Special Forces Group in Balikatan.
"Contrary to what the Philippine military has been saying, US Army Special
Forces personnel are highly trained in sustained jungle warfare. They are
also expert in special operations conducted under cover of darkness. As a
matter of fact, there is a bright shinning lie here. If the US needed to
train Philippine soldiers, why doesn’t that happen in the US?" Obado said.
US Marine Major Cynthia Teramae said the American soldiers flown to
Basilan came from the Joint Task Force 510. The soldiers, she said,
would be confined to battalion bases in Basilan.
Manila Times, 18 February 2002
US ELITE TROOPS SET TO DEPLOY IN ‘HOSTAGE ISLAND’: ZAMBOANGA – The first batch
of US Special Forces is set to be deployed to the southern Philippine island of
Basilan on Sunday as the Southeast Asian phase of the US campaign on terrorism
moves up a gear, officials said.
An "advance team" of about 32 US Special Forces will be flown into the southern
city of Zamboanga on Saturday and about 400 other US troops are to arrive next
week to join the six-month training, the military southern command said Thursday.
The expected arrivals make up the bulk of the 660 soldiers assigned to take
part in the largest deployment of American forces abroad since the start of
the ongoing US-led campaign in Afghanistan.
About 200 US troops, primarily logistics and communications personnel, are
already in this southern city.
Of the total deployments, 160 are US Special Forces commandos who will join
their Filipino counterparts in patrols in Basilan against the Muslim Abu Sayyaf
gunmen, a small group of Islamic militants believed linked to the al-Qaeda terror
network of Osama bin Laden.
"On Saturday, the first batch of the Alpha teams will be coming and be staying in
Malagutay (training camp) in Zamboanga City," Filipino training commander
Brigadier General Emmanuel Teodosio said.
"In the (succeeding) days, the remaining two batches will arrive to complete the
160 US Special Forces (team). They will be coming in close to one another," he
said. "It would be a sizeable force."
"Next week, the full complement of those who are going to be assigned or disposed
to the battalions of the (army) brigade in Basilan will be around already," added
armed forces chief General Diomedio Villanueva told reporters here.
Filipino officials say the contingent will advise their Filipino counterparts and
boost the capability of both sides in fighting terrorism.
Although the US forces will not directly take part in combat, they are allowed
to fire back when attacked.
The training ends in July, regardless of whether the hostages, American
missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham, are rescued, officials said. During
the latter part of the operation, pairs of US Special Forces troops will
accompany Filipino military jungle patrols on Basilan.
General Charles Holland, commander-in-chief of the US Special Operation
Command based at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, flew into Zamboanga on
Thursday and held talks with Villanueva and Lieutenant General Roy Cimatu,
the commander of Filipino forces in the south.
Villanueva said the American general inspected his forces taking part in the
exercises at the military's southern command in this port city and a newly
constructed training center nearby.
Philippines Daily Inquirer, 15 February 2002
2 ISSUES DELAY SIGNING OF RP-US BALIKATAN RULES: Two issues are delaying the
signing of the terms of reference (TOR) that will govern the conduct of the
RP-US military war exercises in Mindanao.
One is the "mission order" from the US military brass to its troops, which
will determine their conduct here, not the TOR.
Another is the possibility that US Secretary of State Collin Powell may not
sign the TOR for the United States to the consternation of Vice President
Teofisto Guingona Jr. though he expressed "satisfaction" after his teleconference
on the TOR with an undersecretary of state.
A Cabinet source disclosed the two issues after Guingona discussed the TOR on
the phone with Powell’s subordinate, James Kelly, US Assistant Secretary of
State for the Asia-Pacific. The TOR was supposed to be signed on Feb. 9.
The source, who asked not to be named, said visiting US military forces considered
themselves only bound by the mission order from their superiors.
President Macapagal-Arroyo said last week that previous Balikatan exercises
did not require a TOR but that she insisted on one for the Balikatan 02-1.
The Cabinet source noted that US state department lawyers, who flew into the
country, had insisted on inserting a provision in the draft TOR, which explicitly
states that the TOR does not constitute a treaty "although obviously the TOR
is not a treaty."
With such provision, it can be inferred that Washington considers itself less
obligated to the TOR than if it were a treaty.
The source, however, stressed that the US military's mission order "is clear
that their mission is for training and not combat."
Some 660 American soldiers are coming over, 160 of whom are Green Berets who
will join frontline Filipino troops hunting down Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan.
The Department of Foreign Affairs had insisted that the TOR would read explicitly
that American troops were under the ‘authority’ of Filipino commanders.
A draft TOR released last week by Malacanang featured a somewhat watered down
provision which stated that "nothing shall infringe on the authority of the
AFP unit commander."
Presidential spokesperson Rigoberto Tiglao had earlier explained that the United
States had raised legal questions over the matter of "authority" because American
soldiers were sworn to be under the authority only of American commanders.
Justice Secretary Hernando Perez cited a possible compromise on who shall have
command over whom amid US objections to placing American soldiers under the
authority of Filipino officers.
Marine Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio and US Air Force Brig. Gen. Donald Wurster
have been designated as co-directors of Balikatan 02-1.
The Cabinet source said Guingona, who is also the foreign secretary, wanted Powell
to sign the TOR on behalf of the United States.
Still, Guingona said he was "satisfied" with the outcome of the teleconference
with Kelly. The teleconference took place at the residence of Guingona at around
8:30 a.m. It was Kelly who called, according to DFA spokesperson Victoriano Lecaros.
Guingona was told that Kelly was calling on behalf of Powell who was unavailable
to engage in a teleconference with him. Lecaros said the phone conversation between
Guingona and Kelly lasted about 10 minutes.
Interviewed later in Malacanang, Guingona said he wanted to "clarify" some details
with the Cabinet oversight committee on internal security.
The committee convened at 4 p.m. Tuesday without Guingona, who was supposed to
preside over the meeting.
Guingona, however, gave mixed signals at the Cabinet meeting.
Shortly after the meeting began at 10 a.m. and in full view of TV cameramen and
photographers, Guingona raised a clenched fist.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 13 February 2002
POLL BACKS PRESIDENT’S STAND: Despite criticisms from all sectors, even
administration senators, Malacanang is hanging tough on President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo’s decision to draw a line in the sand between supporters
and critics of the RP-US Balikatan war exercises.
One possible reason: a leading pollster said there was "strong sentiment"
from the public for American support in the war on Abu Sayyaf bandits.
Felipe Miranda, political scientist and research director of the Pulse Asia
polling and research firm, said the President "might make collaboration with
the United States as the acid test of her (performance) as a leader."
Miranda said a survey his group conducted in December found "a strong sentiment"
in favor of getting US help to fight terror groups.
Details of the survey are yet to be released, but Miranda said the public was
generally unmoved by opposition charges that the President was selling out
the country to the Americans.
Miranda said Ms Macapagal’s standing would depend greatly on the results of
the joint operations.
But Miranda warned that the President might be hurt by "the possible arrogance
or tactlessness of the Americans," particularly if there are incidents of US
troops brawling in bars or getting into trouble with local laws.
The first US troops have been on their best behavior, staying away from bars and
nightclubs and receiving lectures on cultural sensitivity.
A political science professor at the De La Salle University said the US deployment
was likely to be followed by increased aid, particularly to the poorly equipped
Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The professor, who asked not to be named, said leftist protest groups allied
with communist guerrillas were particularly fearful of a strengthened Philippine
military, which is why they stepped up their demonstrations against the Americans.
In a strong declaration on Friday, the President branded critics of the American
deployment as "terrorist lovers" and accomplices of the Abu Sayyaf kidnap gang.
On Saturday, Sen. Joker Arroyo blasted the President, saying she had outdone the
late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in calling her critics un-Filipino.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 11 February 2002
SIGNING OF BALIKATAN RULES POSTPONED AGAIN: The signing of the terms of
reference (TOR) for the RP-US Balikatan 02-1 has been postponed, although
Philippine officials do not consider it a setback.
Rigoberto Tiglao, spokesperson for President Macapagal-Arroyo, on Saturday
said the US side had "added a few words" to the document that Philippine
officials approved last week. "But we don’t see any major contentious issue,"
he said.
In a separate interview, National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said they
expected the controversial training exercise to start as scheduled on Feb. 15.
"We don’t see any problem. It’s just a matter of semantics," he said, adding
that the new draft containing the US-proposed changes was "acceptable" to
Vice President and Foreign Secretary Teofisto Guingona Jr.
Tiglao said the signing could be held today, Sunday. Golez said it would
probably happen "next week."
The document was to have been signed Friday night in a teleconference
between Philippine and US officials led by Guingona and US Secretary of
State Colin Powell. Instead, the Cabinet oversight committee on security
discussed the Philippine government’s response to the changes proposed by
the US side.
Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo presided over the meeting in Guingona’s
behalf.
Victoriano Lecaros, spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs,
yesterday said preparations for the teleconference were underway.
But nothing is final regarding the time and date, or who, apart from Guingona
and Powell, will be part of the negotiations.
Gen. Diomedio Villanueva, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,
and his counterpart, US Admiral Dennis Blair, chief of the US Pacific Command,
are to sign the TOR.
Guingona is to approve it, along with US Embassy charge d'affaires Robert
Fitts for Powell.
Tiglao said the US-proposed changes in the TOR concerned "legal" points.
"One example is they added in the last part that this legal document should
not be taken as a treaty," he said. "We said it is obvious it is not a treaty.
The TOR refers only to the Balikatan exercise."
Tiglao said there was no more debate on the Philippine military’s authority
over Filipino and US soldiers for the duration of Balikatan 02-1.
The Vice President reportedly relayed his comments on the US-proposed changes
to Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes and Justice Undersecretary Manuel Teehankee.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 10 February 2002
US TROOPS NOW IN BASILAN: ZAMBOANGA CITY—Military and civilian officials here
and Basilan island expressed alarm yesterday over US Defense Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld’s admission that 200 American troops are already in a jungle training
camp, despite unresolved issues in the Balikatan war games’ Terms of Reference TOR).
Even more alarming was the same official’s claim that exercises would be expanding
to Jolo, Sulu and "other parts of Mindanao island."
A top ranking Southern Command official, who requested anonymity, expressed
anger at Rumsfeld’s remarks at a Pentagon press briefing.
"We have been under orders to keep all US troop movements strictly confidential.
That is for their (US troops’) security. I am surprised that the US defense
secretary would admit what we are supposed to keep secret," the official said.
In a related development a C17 airplane landed at the Zamboanga International
Airport with one of its engines on fire.
Journalists witnessed a small explosion and brief burst of flame from the
rear right engine of the plane as it touched down around 3:45 p.m.
The fire immediately sputtered out, allowing the crew to unload cargo. Soldiers
immediately checked the engines. Reports said the C17 would remain the whole
night in Zamboanga.
US military officials were mum on the cause of the fire. Philippine officials
said they did not want to speculate but admitted the plane had passed over
territory harboring Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighters from Nur
Misuari’s faction.
Rumsfeld’s statements aired on the C-Span channel, just an hour after the same
Socom source said he would "neither confirm nor deny" reports of US troops in a
jungle training camp on the outskirts of Islabela City, in Basilan, site of the
major joint RP-US military exercise. Filipino military officials had earlier
denied the report.
Basilan provincial spokesman, Chris Puno, said: "Our own intelligence sources
have reported the presence of Americans here but their number has never been
confirmed. We have tried to be silent on the matter, not wanting to interfere
with the national government’s plans. Rumsfeld’s statement confirmed what we have."
Malacanang has said only 160 trainors would join ground exercises in Basilan,
with the rest of the 600-strong US Balikatan force representing support services.
Government critics have questioned reports of US presence in Basilan during the
Balikatan preparatory phrase, noting differences involving command of the joint
exercise force.
Manila Times, 10 February 2002
TOR STILL OPEN TO REVISIONS BY WASHINGTON –GUINGONA: Washington could still
introduce revisions in the Terms of Reference (TOR) for Balikatan before handing
back the document to the Philippine government, Vice President and Foreign
Affairs Secretary Teofisto Guingona said yesterday.
The draft of the TOR was approved earlier this week by the Senate oversight
committee and transmitted to US military authorities who will look it over.
Guingona said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) expects Washington to
send the draft back with amendments.
The document is scheduled to be signed on Feb. 15, just before training proper
starts in Basilan.
Guingona said Washington is concerned about giving too much authority to persons
outside their command structure.
Last Wednesday, President Arroyo said she will approve the final and official
version of the TOR, after which it will be signed by Guingona and US State
Secretary Colin Powell.
Reacting to reports that US officials had initially balked at being under
Philippine command, Mrs. Arroyo had said the TOR had resolved the problem by
stressing the "tactical" nature of the command.
The TOR was one of the points taken up during yesterday’s five-hour hearing
on the nature of the Balikatan war games in Mindanao.
Guingona, National Security Adviser Roilo Golez and Defense Secretary Angelo
Reyes took turns explaining that Balikatan, the largest of a series of annual
exercises held between local and US forces, is confined to training activities
and would not involve actual combat operations.
They also assured that the final approval of the TOR is not necessary to
justify the presence of US troops here, noting that the issue is already
addressed by the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
Their explanation fell short, as far as Sen. Joker Arroyo is concerned.
"It’s putting the cart before the horse," Arroyo said.
Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Diomedio Villanueva said exercises were
supposed to have been held in Palawan, but the idea was scrapped after
determining that it would serve no one’s interest to hold war games near
a disputed territory.
Guingona and Reyes gave conflicting accounts on how the decision to focus
this year’s Balikatan on the issue of terrorism was reached.
Guingona said Manila was advised of the proposal only in December, but
Reyes said there was already a "basic understanding" as early as Mrs.
Arroyo’s official visit to the US November last year.
Manila Times, 8 February 2002
CABINET APPROVES BALIKATAN RULES: The Cabinet oversight committee approved
Tuesday night the terms of reference (TOR) for the RP-US Balikatan 02-1.
Rigoberto Tiglao, spokesperson for President Macapagal-Arroyo, said Vice
President and Foreign Secretary Teofisto Guingona Jr. would sign the document
for the Philippines and US State Secretary Colin Powell for the United States
"in a few days."
The document defines the role to be played in the Balikatan by some 660 US
military personnel, of whom 160 Green Berets will be joining local troops to
hunt down the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan.
Earlier, there was confusion regarding who would sign the TOR. Guingona told
reporters that he and Powell would sign it "as soon as possible." But Tiglao
said the President might sign the document if only to emphasize "the fact that
she's responsible" for the war games that had drawn vehement opposition from
various sectors.
The TOR, which both Guingona and National Security Adviser Roilo Golez described
as having been ironed out, was formally presented to the Cabinet oversight
committee in Malacanang at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
But Guingona was categorical in stating that he would sign it. "I will," he
told Palace reporters while aboard his vehicle after his one-on-one discussion
with the President following the regular Cabinet meeting.
"Everything has been resolved," he said. "We're waiting for a conference with
our counterparts from the US. The conference will be a teleconference, or
somebody will be sent here depending on their side."
Guingona said he had incorporated his "inputs" into the TOR. He refused to
provide details, saying that would mean "telegraphing our punches already."
At his regular press briefing, Tiglao pointed out that the President's signature
was not legally required for the TOR because the Balikatan was just another
exercise under the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement.
Tiglao declined to categorically comment on Guingona's assertion that he would
sign the TOR for the Philippines. Tiglao said he did not know whether the Vice
President had been officially delegated to do so.
Interviewed upon her return from overseas, the President defended her Executive
Order 67 that clipped Guingona’s powers over the body by saying she should have
greater say in it.
She added, however, that Guingona would still serve as VFACom chair.
In EO 67 dated Jan. 22, Ms Macapagal recalled Guingona’s authority to appoint the
VFACom executive director. She said she would appoint a senior official from the
OP as executive director, who would report directly to her.
Earlier in the day, Guingona said he was not consulted prior to the issuance of
EO 67 and would take up the matter with the President.
But when he emerged from his one-on-one discussion with her, he said "everything
has been resolved."
He said he would remain VFACom chair and Defense Secretary Reyes, co-chair.
Asked to comment on reports that the President wanted to control information
on the Balikatan, particularly on violations that might be committed by the
US troops, Guingona said: "Let us not exacerbate the issue. It has been resolved."
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 6 February 2002
15 MORE WAR GAMES PLANNED THIS YEAR: ZAMBOANGA CITY -- As part of America’s
expanded war on terror, the Philippines and the United States officially launched
here Thursday "Balikatan 02-1" joint military exercises, even as more such
exercises throughout the year have been confirmed to be in the planning stages.
Robert Fitts, US charge d’affaires, confirmed reports that the war games could
be extended up to 12 months. He said the exercise was only one of 16 or so
planned for this year.
America will also assist the Philippines in its fight against poverty, according
to Balikatan training co-director Brig. Gen. Donald Wurster. Wurster said the
anti-poverty program was dubbed "Operation Gentle Wind."
It was Gen. Diomedio Villanueva who formally opened the joint military exercises.
As part of the exercise, the Philippine Army will unveil Friday new weapons in the
fight against the Abu Sayyaf, including unmanned surveillance planes, according to
Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Jose Mabanta Jr.
Fitts said the exercises would "help eliminate the terrorist parasites who
threaten Filipinos as well as the United States."
More than 100 US soldiers are already in Zamboanga. Some 500 more, including
Special Forces, are to arrive in coming weeks for the mission to train Filipino
soldiers fighting the Abu Sayyaf, which has been linked to Osama bin Laden’s
al-Qaida network.
Filipino officers said the US soldiers will mainly train the local troops on
helicopter night flying and in other tactics involving sophisticated equipment.
But some Special Forces may accompany Filipino soldiers into combat zones and
are authorized to shoot in self-defense.
A retired Filipino general warned the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Moro
National Liberation Front and the New People’s Army to stay away from Basilan,
Jolo and other sites of the joint military exercise to prevent an encounter with
Filipino and American troops.
Eduardo Ermita, presidential adviser on the peace process, belittled the NPA threat
to attack American troops should they venture into its territory.
Ermita said the MILF had already agreed to declare a "ceasefire" and started
pulling out its troops from Basilan.
He added that the Moro and communist rebels might think they were under attack upon
the onset of shooting exercises.
Just before the ceremonial opening got under way, about 30 people, chanting
"Yankees, go home," burned the American flag in a rally at the gates of the
military headquarters here.
They shouted "Gloria, US puppet" -- referring to President Macapagal-Arroyo --
and carried signs reading: "We need food, houses, not bombs," and "We need
aid -- not AIDS."
The controversy over who will lead and issue decisions during the joint military
exercises has been resolved.
Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu, Southcom chief, said he would have the upper hand in
decisions concerning military operations, while Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio
and Wurster would take charge of the training exercises.
Villanueva, however, said that the training modules would still depend on the
assessments to be made by US trainors.
Maj. Cynthia Terramae, chief of the US Pacific’s Special Operations Command,
also issued the same statement. She was not sure, however, when the trainors
would be arriving.
Aside from the absence of training modules, Terramae confirmed that the training
calendar, copies of the ground rules for participating US forces and their
Philippine counterparts were still being finalized.
Romeo Serra, president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.,
said local businessmen favored Ms Macapagal’s decision to allow the Americans to
conduct the Balikatan exercise in Western Mindanao.
He said it was high time to seek external help as terrorist activities continued
to take their toll on Mindanao’s economy.
In Mati, Davao Oriental, various groups led by the militant AnakBayan assailed
the war games.
Militant groups and legislators say the mission violates a constitutional clause,
which restricts foreign combat troops on Philippine soil.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 1 February 2002
