Defense chief: US soldiers capable of defending selves

From Malaya Business Insight (Sep 15): Defense chief: US soldiers capable of defending selves

DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana does not share President Duterte’s fear that American soldiers in Mindanao will be targeted for kidnapping by the Abu Sayyaf group, saying the Americans are always holed up in their camp and are more than capable of defending themselves.

“‘Yung mga fears ni Presidente that they might be subjected to reprisal by Muslims (Abu Sayyaf), hindi naman siguro mangyayari ‘yun,” Lorenzana told the budget hearing yesterday of the House appropriations committee on the Department of National Defense’s proposed P178.3 billion budget for 2017.

“Let’s remember, these people are also combatants. They are not civilians subject to kidnapping by terrorists,” said Lorenzana.

Duterte on Monday said he wants American troops in Mindanao out as they could be victims of the Abu Sayyaf’s kidnap-for-ransom activities.

The US forces in Mindanao, numbering 107 soldiers, are helping Filipino soldiers in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, including assisting Filipino troops in the renewed campaign to end the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu and Basilan.

The US soldiers are confined at the headquarters of the AFP’s Western Mindanao Command in Zamboanga City.

Malacañang has clarified that Duterte is not forcing American soldiers out of Mindanao but was merely warning them about what could happen if they remain there.

Lorenzana said US soldiers are confined in military camps and are also armed every time they go out.

“Nasa kampo lang sila. They won’t go out of their camps na mag-isa lang sila, or they’re also armed,” he said.

Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, a retired Marine captain, said American troops are a big help to their Filipino counterparts.

“We were not able to develop our own capabilities to protect our territories because we are focusing internally. We are moving towards that and the US, in one way or another, is helping us develop that capability,” he said.

Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas said a pullout of US troops in the country “will help the country tread the path of an independent foreign policy.”

“With the recent bombing in Davao and the worsening problem of Abu Sayyaf and ISIS in Mindanao, clearly, the US has not in any way assisted our country in addressing these problems. The President is but right in driving US military out of the country,” she said

Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay said he is ready to explain to US officials Duterte’s statements on the pullout of US troops in Mindanao.

Yasay left for California Tuesday for talks with US officials before attending the 71st United Nations General Assembly in New York City.
He reiterated that Duterte does not want any harm to the Americans in Mindanao.

“If Secretary (John) Kerry will ask me the questions, I will say the very things to him and he will understand. He knew that there will be no change in our policy,” Yasay said though it is not yet clear if he has an appointment with Kerry.
WEAPONS

The Department of National Defense said it had considered acquiring helicopters and other defense equipment from China and Russia but no deal pushed through because of a variety of issues.

DND public affairs service chief Arsenio Andolong said among equipment considered by the department for purchase from China and Russia during the “past administrations” were helicopters, armored assets, communications equipment, and humanitarian and disaster relief assets.

No acquisition was made because of “many considerations.”

“Some of them are cost, interoperability with our current platforms and personnel capacity, worldwide availability of spares, etc,” he said.

Duterte on Tuesday said the Philippines would now look to Russia and China for procurement of equipment for the Armed Forces’ modernization program. Recent acquisitions under the modernization program were made with US, South Korea, Spain, Israel, Italy, Poland, Italy and Canada, among others.

Former ambassador   Jose Cuisia questioned the wisdom of Duterte’s pronouncement that the country might acquire Russian and Chinese military equipment, saying it would affect interoperability not only with the country’s long-time allies but also even within the Armed Forces.

“We must keep in mind how can we have interoperability in equipment, how you can communicate, how can our Navy officers manning Chinese or Russian equipment communicate with their other US vessels for example,” Cuisia said.

Being a treaty ally of the US, the Philippine military has long relied on American made equipment to fulfill its defense needs.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/defense-chief-us-soldiers-capable-defending-selves