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Monday, March 03, 2003
RP, US continue talks on rules for Jolo drills
MANILA -- Philippine and US security officials are to meet again in the coming weeks to hammer out ground rules for a new counter-terror mission in the troubled southern Philippines this year, President Arroyo's spokesman said Sunday.
The security cooperation hit a snag last week when US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Filipino counterpart Angelo Reyes failed to come up with the "terms of reference" for the proposed "Balikatan O3-1" exercises on the island of Jolo.
Arroyo has reportedly asked the United States to delay deploying troops there until after the anticipated war in Iraq is over.
The request may have stemmed from the controversy that developed over suggestions from Washington that US special forces and elite troops take part in actual combat operations. The Philippine Constitution prohibits foreign troops from fighting on local soil.
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Sunday that one good thing that came about from the Rumsfeld-Reyes meeting in Washington was that "there was a fundamental agreement" that any exercise would be subject to Philippine law.
"So I think, because of this it would be easier to work out details of this Balikatan 03-1," Bunye said over local radio.
A national newspaper reported Sunday that Arroyo's top security advisers recommended the putting off of the deployment of US troops to Jolo but National Security Adviser Roilo Golez denied this.
Golez said security officials invited Muslim leaders to a meeting last week and asked them to tell their constituents that the US troops would not be engaged in combat in the south, which would violate the Constitution, and stressed there was no mention of a delay in their deployment.
Muslim leaders, on the other hand, merely relayed concerns that residents would be hostile to any US soldiers deployed in Jolo.
Bunye said among the circumstances that might delay the deployment of US troops is the "local feelings" of the Muslim residents of Jolo, some of whom have sympathies or ties with the Abu Sayyaf.
He added that among government's campaign was to have local Muslim leaders calm the fears of residents over the planned arrival of US soldiers.
Also according to Bunye, "there would be subsequent meetings (between US an Philippine officials) in the coming weeks and our proposal is for us to use the terms of reference of the Balikatan 02-1."
Balikatan 02-1 was the code name for the anti-terror exercises held in the southern island of Basilan last year.
The six-month operation led to the rescue of the last US hostage held by the kidnap gang Abu Sayyaf and the death of a top rebel leader.
While US "advisers" were allowed to observe at the company level last year, they were barred by the terms of reference of the operation from combat operations and were not allowed to fire weapons unless under direct attack.
Bunye said there appeared to have been a misunderstanding, after a US defense official earlier announced that US troops would be allowed to take part in actual combat on Jolo island, a traditional stronghold of Muslim rebels.
"But Secretary Rumsfeld has said that they'll consider our own particular circumstances and what we understand from that is there should be consultations in areas where the Balikatan would be held," Bunye said.
Upcoming discussions for the mission would be lower level meetings, Bunye said, adding that details could be made available only after specific agreements are made.
President Arroyo last week gave the military a 90-day deadline to crush the Abu Sayyaf, a small group of Islamic militants wanted for kidnapping and murdering Christians and foreigners in recent years.
The gunmen are still holding three Indonesian seamen and four Filipina Christian preachers in the jungles of Jolo.
Military southern command chief Lieutenant General Narciso Abaya accepted Arroyo's challenge and said Sunday the main target of the stepped up offensives would be to get Abu Sayyaf leader Khadaffy Janjalani, who escaped from Basilan last year.
Latest intelligence reports indicate Janjalani had relocated to Jolo, Abaya said, adding that troops are under instructions to prioritize the safety of hostages in any fighting. AFP/Sunnex |
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