American troops, should the call for withdrawal in Mindanao pushes through, can still help their Filipino
counterparts in counter-terrorism operations even if they are re-located in
Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
"They are able help even if they are Zamboanga City,
they can help even if they are in Metro Manila (and other provinces) for
example where they are least or less in peril from reprisals from the Abu
Sayyaf Group and other terrorist group so we say (that) the assistance that
they can provide us are, still exist and will continue to exist, its just a
matter of switching the location," Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo in a briefing Tuesday said.
Currently, US military personnel in Mindanao only amounts to
107, with all of them concentrated in the Western Mindanao Command headquarters
at Camp Don Basilio Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said US troops in Mindanao
should leave as they could be kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)
terrorists.
These American personnel are providing intelligence,
technical and training to Filipino counter-terrorist forces.
American presence in the area started in 2003, with the
creation of the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines which was
tasked to provide anti-terror training to the AFP.
Arevalo also clarified that these US
He added that the military take due notice of the
pronouncement as Duterte's expressed concern for the safety of US servicemen in
Mindanao .
""Pursuant to the same statement, he desires that
our American counterparts should be eased from harms way. This refers to Western Mindanao (in particular areas like Zamboanga,
Basilan & Sulu) where intense focused military operations combating
terrorism are ongoing," Arevalo said.
The AFP public affairs office chief also added that they
have yet to receive any specific directive as to how this pronouncement will be
effected.
"We understand that the implementation of the said
pronouncement is the subject of deliberations by concerned departments like DND
(Department of National Defense) and DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) to
mention some," he pointed out.
"We assure our people and allies that PHL-US defense
relations remains rock solid. Activities line up for the year continue without
interruption. Consultative planning activities for 2017 & beyond likewise
remain on track," Arevalo concluded.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=922819
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