Philippine and US military officials in Kauswagan town in Lanao del Norte province. ILIGAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 21, 2009) - The US government through their military handed over Wednesday to local authorities a P4.5-million newly constructed 3-room school building in Lanao del Norte’s Kauswagan town in Mindanao.
The town was previously raided by Moro rebels who burned schools and attacked innocent civilians.
US Army Captain Cristian Knutzen, of the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines, together with Philippine Army Colonel Benito de Leon, of the 104th Infantry Brigade under the 1st Infantry Division, assisted Lanao del Norte Governor Khalid Mohammad Dimaporo, in the ceremonial turnover of the keys to the school principal of Kauswagan Central Elementary School.
This was witnessed by representatives of the Department of Education, other local officials, and school children.
Knutzen said the US-funded project was built in collaboration with the Philippine Government to help bring stability in the region. De Leon, the army brigade commander in the area, explained that the local military identified developmental projects in the province in consultation with local executives which eventually is nominated for funding by the US government.
He said the school building was among the other civil-military developmental projects being undertaken in the area with the help of the American forces.
Governor Dimaporo also thanked the military forces for their continued support to the Province of Lanao del Norte, and at the same time called upon his people to join hands to pursue peace. (With a report from Merlyn Manos)
7 comments:
This is good news. I hope those who have been entrusted with the facility will use it properly.
By the way, I am curious, does Mindanao Examiner know the official US military population in Southern Philippines, i.e., Mindanao?
Thanks.
Thank you for visiting the Mindanao Examiner.
American troops come and go in the southerh Philippines, but are all under the Joint Special Task force-Philippines (formerly codenamed: Enduring Freedom Philippines).
US officials do not give out figures of their troops in the Southern Philippines, but our closest figure would around 600 troops.
This number excludes CIA, FBI, Pentagon agents and other intelligence and anti-terrorism experts.
Hi Mindanao Examiner,
I was surprised, US military still play a major role in the social and military development in Philippines, knowing the Subic base had been closed years ago.
Their existence normally invite provocation to those locals namely the MORO or Islamic extremist.
Why can't they just give the financial allocations and let the local run the show.
Military wise, Philippine armies and intelligences are one of the best in Asia.
Sorry for the comments, though.
The US military will not help the Filipinos and the country for nothing. US firms are searching for oil off Sulu Archipelago. The US is worried about the entry of the Indonesian Jemaah Islamiya militants in South RP, and is also watching Sabah and Malaysia - unmanned US drones frequently fly near the Sabah border and I have a strong feeling that these planes spy inside Malaysian and Indonesia territories.
US troops in Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and those in Mindanao are deployed in the battalion level and there were numerous reports about their involvment in actual combat and military operations against the MILF, the Abu Sayyaf and the NPA.
The Commission on Human Rights in Zamboanga City is holding reports about several incidents involving US trrops in combat situation.
Of course, Filipino and US officials denied such reports because it is a violations of the Constitution.
Many US soldiers are paranoid and look at Filipino Muslims as terrorists.
I'm afraid Somlymone's take makes sense, why indeed can't they just allow the locals to "run the show?"
Re: "reports about several incidents involving US trrops in combat situation."
Bound to happen.
What a sorry mess. The law is being twisted at whim and it seems every official is turning a blind eye on the violations being committed against RP Constitution.
Hi manila bay watch,
Glad to know you in this borderless cyberspace. Thanks for your complementary comments of understanding pertaining to the issue.
Having, written that, I also thanks you for linking my blog to yours. Marami^g salamat kaibagan.
Now, touching the issue in hand, it is not easy to elaborate it here for reasons. Among others , I guess, our blogs won’t carry so much weight toward the solution of the problem.
By right, we are not in the position to discuss the complicity of your country defenses' policy .
Academically speaking , it would take days to stretch out our theories and differences.
However, with the permission of Mindanao Examiner, I would like to point out somehow only Philippine is having US military assistant in curtailing terror in ASEAN.
Correct me if I am wrong, so far it seem not very successful. The militants are still create a lot of damages and havocs in the south?
Unfortunately, some of the problematic situation outflow to my country. This causes the flux of illegal migration of your displaced people to mine.
Honestly, I am sadden and sympathizing the whole episode. A melancholy scenario.
I am hoping and pray, the new US President Barack Hussein Obama, could one way or another contribute to a real peaceful settlement to the war between your Government and the extremist militants in the south.
That is the most I can say.
Mabuhay.
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