RP, US Troops Begin Medical Mission In Jolo Island

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 22 Feb) Hundreds of Filipino and American troops participating in joint military drill began a two-day medical mission Wednesday in the southern Philippine island of Jolo, a known stronghold of Abu Sayyaf militants tied to al-Qaeda terror network.

Major Gamal Hayudini, a local military spokesman, said thousands of mostly poor Muslims will benefit from the joint medical mission in the town of Panamao, whose population is estimated to be more than 35,000. "This is a good opportunity for many of our poor brothers in Panamao because the joint Balikatan medical mission will bring help to the locals," he told the Zamboanga Journal.

The medical mission is one of the biggest humanitarian undertakings in Jolo of the Balikatan 2006, the codename for this year's joint training between the Philippines and the United States military forces, which formally opened Saturday, the same time a bomb planted at a roadside bar outside an army base exploded, killing 2 people and wounding 28 others.

Security was tight in Panamao and armed Philippine and US soldiers were guarding the participants to the medical mission. Fililipino commanders said the Balikatan, which means shoulder-to-shoulder, will bring humanitarian aid to the impoverished island about 950 kms south of Manila.

"There will be a lot of humanitarian activities in Jolo. There will also be more infrastructure projects and all these are part of the Balikatan program and this is not all about military drill between our soldiers and US troops," the island's overall military commander Brig. Gen. Alexander Aleo said.

US cargo planes and Philippine navy ships continue to ferry tons of military and humanitarian equipment to Jolo island, where troops from both countries have began infrastructure projects that will benefit the locals, he said.

Jolo army commander Brig. Gen. Nehemias Pajarito said about 250 US troops and more than 4,000 Filipino soldiers, including military medics and engineers are participating in the month long training, but most of them will undertake humanitarian missions in far-flung and poor villages on the island.

At least 39 Filipino army soldiers from the 55th Engineer Brigade and 23 US airmen from the Hawaii-based 624 Civil Engineering Squadron are currently constructing a three-room school building worth almost two million pesos for the Sulu National High School in Jolo.

“It is a great experience to work with US forces, and we learn from them, and I think they learn from us, too.” said Philippine Army Col. Rodrigo C. Rosqueta, deputy commander of the 55th Engineer Brigade.

Some 1,700 students attend daily classes at the school complex, which includes about 15 small buildings, one made of bamboo with a thatched roof and a dirt floor. The new building will include a new library, according to one teacher Bennasir Sappal.

Aside from the project, the US will also furnished two schools in Maimbung and Tiptipon with desks and computers donated by the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Computer Literacy and Internet Connection (Clic) program, said US Army Major Max Diaz.

The CLIC program provides selected schools with satellite or microwave-based Internet connections, up to 10 computers, a local area network, printer and relevant software, a range of computer reference materials, and training for teachers. USAID partners with several organizations to implement CLIC, including the Microsoft Corporation, the Intel Corporation, the Ayala Foundation, Inc., and STI Education Services Group, a computer training organization.

“It is now time to show the world, from Manila to Washington, D.C., that the people of Jolo are ready for development. We are here today to wage peace in Balikatan,” said US Army Col. James Linder, commander of the Joint Special Operations Task Force–Philippines.

Linder said that the civil military operation will improve the schools, hospitals, give medical care to those who desperately need it, provide veterinary care for livestock and clean drinking water by digging wells.

“We are here for the most noblest of things, for one man to lend a hand to another,” Linder said. “We are here to stand shoulder to shoulder with the AFP and the people of your communities.”

Just this month, US and Philippine soldiers finished a medical mission for some 1,000 mostly poor Muslims in Indanan town. In December, American and Filipino troops also held a medical mission in Parang town which benefited more than 1,500 people.

The Balikatan 2006 demonstrates Washington's resolve to continue the commitment to train, advice and assist the Philippine military to build capacity to counter terrorism.
Jolo Rep. Munir Arbison lauded the Balikatan 2006 and called on the locals to support the US and Filipino troops.

“The different projects and assistance which you have lined up for our five or six municipalities in Sulu, such as MEDCAPS (medical mission) and ENCAPS (engineering mission), and other humanitarian programs during your short stay with us, are very much appreciated,” he said.

The training, military officials said, includes support for comprehensive defense reform; security assistance modules for counter-terrorism training; operations intelligence fusion; and aspects in education programs, logistics, and engineering, equipment, and maintenance and helicopter programs.

It will also enhance the skills and capabilities of Filipino and American forces in combating terrorism and other internal and external security threats. And improve inter-operability between RP and US forces through the exchange of training skills and techniques. The training is part of Washington security assistance to the Philippines, a key US ally in Southeast Asia in the so-called global war on terrorism.

But the militant group Migrante International denounced the Balikatan, saying, it undermines the country's patrimony and sovereignty.

“We believe that this Balikatan, sending almost 6,000 US troops in the Philippines, will not solve any problems and have no development in store for our country, instead, it will only instigate more social unrest and intensify armed conflict in Sulu,” said Connie Bragas-Regalado, chairperson of Migrante International.

The Abu Sayyaf previously threatened to attack US targets and had murdered two American citizens kidnapped in the Philippines and killed an American soldier participating in antiterrorism drill in a bomb attack in Zamboanga City in 2002.

Early this month, suspected Abu Sayyaf terrorists fired two rounds of rifle grenade near a military post in Jolo's Mount Karawan and killed a police officer and beheaded a civilian last week in downtown area.

Washington listed the Abu Sayyaf as a foreign terrorist organization and offered as much as $5 million dollars bounty for the group's known leaders.