Monday, October 01, 2007 Overstaying one's welcome By Edwin G. Espejo
LAST week's incident that saw an Philippine Army brigade commander disarm American military servicemen in civilian attires inside a posh restaurant in General Santos has stirred what otherwise was the latter's largely ignored increasing presence here.
It was the second incident involving American servicemen in the city to capture the attention of the local as well as national press.
The first involved a fracas between a member of the local media and another American serviceman inside a resto bar at the arcade building of the East Asia Royal Hotel several months back.
The second incident however drew immediate reactions from local government officials who protested the oft-seen display of firearms by US servicemen in public places.
Steady stream
Over the last five years, Americans of the military kind have been slipping in and out of Central Mindanao with General Santos serving as a preferred and favored R&R jaunt.
When General Santos was hit by successive explosions one night in June of 2000, Caucasians -- not necessarily Americans -- began trekking down into the city. Obviously, they were more than just uninterested tourists or paparazzi.
Police and military officials would later admit these Caucasians were helping them analyze explosive materials used in the spate of bombings in Central Mindanao and filter intelligence information.
Not all these however were Americans
Members of the Australian police forensic force have also been helping local police and military in the analyzing and establishing "fingerprints" of explosive debris recovered from several explosions in the city.
Sources from the regional police forces said trainings were also conducted by both the American soldiers and Australian police for local police and military personnel on anti-terror capabilities.
When a cache of M-16 rifles and more than a ton of explosive materials were recovered in the urban village of Labangal in General Santos in January 2002, American military experts were among those who examined the haul.
That discovery precipitated the unexpected capture of the late Nadzmie Saabdullah, alias Kumander Global, a key leader of the Abu Sayaff Group, who sought refuge in General Santos after a failed assault at Pearl Farm Resort in nearby Samal City.
Reports said the Americans, at least, were provided minutes of the interrogation made on Kumander Global.
The Abu Sayaff Group is included in the US government list of terrorist organization.
In July of 2003, reports of alleged landing of former ASG head Khadaffy Janjalani in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat caused the hurried arrival of American military advisers in General Santos. Among them was a colonel in the US Air Force.
The Americans reportedly brought along with them state of the art surveillance equipment in the hopes of tracking the then elusive ASG leader. Among this sophisticated equipment was a satellite tracking device equipped with thermal imaging features that provided real time intelligence information. The Americans were long gone when reports indicated Khadaffy was no longer in Central Mindanao.
Khadaffy was slain last year in Sulu. His death was confirmed by Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) samples recovered from the grave where his body was allegedly buried.
When Indonesian terror suspect Roman Fathur Al-Ghozie was slain in an alleged encounter with police authorities in Cotabato province in October 2004, American forensic experts rushed to General Santos where his dead body was brought to a local funeral parlor.
Reports said the American forensic experts, seen the night before at a local bar, gathered tissue samples from the cadaver of Al-Ghozie for DNA testing.
High profile visits
The American government has not only been doing discreet activities in this part of Mindanao.
Current US ambassador Kristie Kenney has visited Central Mindanao at least three times to inaugurate projects, accompany medical and humanitarian missions and hold consultations with local business leaders since taking over from former Ambassador Francis Ricciardone Jr. in March 2006.
Last week, Kenney announced an P11-million grant for the Philippine National Police (PNP) office in General Santos City.
US naval ships have also visited General Santos City twice, ostensibly to do humanitarian and medical missions.
Officials of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are frequently visiting General Santos City and nearby provinces where they have several projects funded through its conduit organization, the Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM).
The most recent among them is Deputy Chief of Mission Paul Jones who inaugurated a P1.4 million foot bridge in Sarangani.
He likewise pledged a five-year $190-million assistance package "for the construction of small-scale but important development projects in Mindanao."
The increasing US involvement in Central Mindanao extends not only to providing military assistance and extending grants through development projects.
Last year, US Embassy press attach‚ Matthew Lussenhop admitted the US government was behind the full-color full-page ads denouncing terrorism in Mindanao.
The initial ad runs however drew strong reaction from the local government of General Santos which mayor, Pedro Acharon Jr., protested because the said controversial publications and television broadcasts were giving the city the impression as "favorite target" of terrorist attacks.
Lussenhop said the controversial ads were since withdrawn and supplanted with less contentious ones but insisted they were not meant to disparage the city and its residents.
More than just hellos
Businessman Manny Yaphuckon, immediate past president of the General Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who met with the American servicemen on that day they were 'accosted' for tugging service firearms san proper military uniform admitted some of these soldiers have been asking several businessmen and local residents here apparently to gauge public opinion on the political affairs of the Philippine government.
Yaphuckon nevertheless clarified that his relationships with the American soldiers were purely related to his business as dealer and supplier of construction materials.
The Yaphuckons own the Yap Mabuhay Construction.
"I have been supplying them (American soldiers) construction materials for their headquarters inside the Philippine Army camp (in Malungon, Sarangani) and other projects," he said.
He also added that he hosted the dinner that night but arrived late and did not witness the reported disarming of the American soldiers.
The businessman however admitted he had discussed several issues outside of his business undertakings with the Americans but begged off from disclosing most of them.
The former anti-Marcos activist said the Americans seemed to be very conscious of public perception of their presence in the city and that they are reportedly helping the Philippine military establish government presence in areas where the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (Milf) maintains armed presence.
According to reports, the Americans have been rotating on six-month tours here in teams of a low of three to a high 12. How many of these teams are in the city is not exactly of public knowledge.
Yaphuckon however remembered meeting a US Navy Seals commander and a colonel in the US Special Forces.
Col. Gaudencio Pangilinan, commander of the Philippine Army's 1002nd Brigade stationed in Malungon where the Americans are now quartered, confirmed the Americans are helping them in many aspects in the war of terror.
He however reminded them of the sensibilities of the Filipinos.
"These are non-commissioned officers (involved in the controversy). They should realize that any inappropriate behavior or actuations will create ripples not only in the community but all the way up the diplomatic arena," Col. Pangilinan said.
The Army officer added that the same holds true with Filipino soldiers.
He however said the matter was already taken up in the 'appropriate body' that governs the conduct of American military personnel in the Philippines, referring to the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippine government and the United States.
When asked if it is possible to interview the American soldiers, Pangilinan replied he got the impression that they (Americans) were instructed by their superiors not to give any interview.
He however said that the incident should not obscure the 'invaluable assistance' the Americans are providing the Philippine government in the war on terror.
This writer tried to get the side of the US Embassy through electronic mail but US press attach‚ Matthew Lussenhop has not replied as of this writing.
But Pangilinan hopes the matter involving him and the American soldiers will no longer be blown out of proportion.
While there is no public outcry over the matter despite a fairly wide media coverage, the fact that several local government officials have expressed dismay could spell the portent of things to come.
