US troop withdrawal in Mindanao to have minimal effect in PHL anti-terror efforts

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 13): US troop withdrawal in Mindanao to have minimal effect in PHL anti-terror efforts

Should the US troop withdrawal in Mindanao proceed, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it will have minimal effect on the military's anti-terror operations in the region.

This was stressed by AFP public affairs service head Col. Edgard Arevalo in a briefing Tuesday.

"(Should US pullout proceed), it will only have minimal effect on our operations and we will still be able to carry out our mission," he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said US troops in Mindanao should leave as they could be kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) terrorists.

Currently, US military personnel in Mindanao only amounts to 107 with all of them concentrated at Western Mindanao Command headquarters at Camp Don Basilio Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City.

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 Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines which was tasked to provide anti-terror training to the AFP.

And should they withdraw from Mindanao, the AFP public affairs office chief said that these Americans can still provide these services even if they are in Metro Manila.

Arevalo also clarified that these US service personnel are not participating in the ongoing military offensive against the Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Sulu and Basilan.

He added that the military take due notice of the pronouncement as the President's concern for the safety of US servicemen in Mindanao.

"Pursuant to the same statement, he (Duterte) desires that our American counterparts should be eased from harms way. This refers to Western Mindanao (in particular areas like Zamboanga, Basilan and Sulu) where intense focused military operations combating terrorism are ongoing," Arevalo said.

The AFP public affairs office chief also added that they are still 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 PH-US defense relations remains rock solid. Activities line up for the year continue without interruption. Consultative planning activities for 2017 and beyond likewise remain on track," Arevalo said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=922550