RP, U.S. approve terms of military exercise
RP, U.S. approve terms of military exercise
Agencies, Manila
The Philippines and the United States on Wednesday approved the
rules covering a controversial military exercise aimed at
improving the Philippine military's anti-terrorism capability.
Vice President Teofisto Guingona said he approved the terms of
reference for the Balikatan -- "shoulder to shoulder" -- exercise
aimed at wiping out the extremist Abu Sayyaf group, which has
been linked to the al-Qaeda network. The rules prohibit U.S.
troop involvement in combat.
"I'm satisfied because we made some changes which we thought
would be good for the national interest," said Guingona, who
reportedly did not support the exercise initially.
"In particular, I wanted a clear and mutual understanding on
the possible implications of the exercise on other aspects of
national security," said Guingona, who is also foreign secretary.
He said both sides agreed the exercise will not contribute to
the escalation of "other conflicts" in the southern Mindanao
region or hinder peace talks with another Moro separatist group
and communist rebels.
"I also wanted clear understanding on the issues of authority,
on the issue of unilateral actions and on the issue of combat,"
he said. "These are now resolved to our satisfaction."
The exercise will involve 660 U.S. troops, including 160 from
the Special Forces, who will be allowed to observe Filipino
soldiers in combat zones on Basilan island, where the Abu Sayyaf
is holding a missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham of Wichita,
Kansas, and Filipino nurse Deborah Yap.
Under the rules, U.S. troops will not be allowed to "operate
independently during field training exercises" and will be "under
the authority" of Chief of Staff Gen. Diomedio Villanueva during
the six-month maneuvers.
Villanueva, who signed the terms with U.S. Rear Admiral
William D. Sullivan of the U.S. Pacific Command, said about 480
U.S. soldiers already are in Zamboanga city, near Basilan, and in
central Cebu city, where U.S. aircraft involved in the exercise
will be stationed.
The Philippine military said its troops killed at least 10
rebels suspected to be linked to the al-Qaeda network of Osama
bin Laden in separate clashes on Wednesday on two southern
islands.
In another development, five communist guerrillas have been
killed and at least six were captured in separate clashes with
Philippine troops, the military said on Wednesday.
Troops chanced upon a group of New People's Army (NPA)
guerrillas in the town of Quirino in Isabela province Tuesday,
sparking an hour-long fight, the military said.
Meanwhile, a Malaysian man detained at Manila's international
airport last week is being investigated for possible leads on the
operation of a terrorist organization in his homeland, a senior
Philippine police official said on Wednesday.
Azmi Salleh, who reportedly runs a travel agency in Malaysia,
was stopped from leaving for Kuwait on Friday at Ninoy Aquino
International Airport by security officers who found he was
carrying 104 passports and about US$57,000 in cash.