A US C17 Globe master unloads equipment in Zamboanga City on Thursday, 16 Feb 2006 in preparation for the joint RP-US military drills in Jolo island next week. (Zamboanga Journal) ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 16 Feb) A huge C17 cargo plane unloaded Thursday tons of military and humanitarian equipment in Zamboanga City as Manila and Washington prepare for another joint military drills in Jolo island, a stronghold of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, about 950 km south of the Philippines.
Local security officials said the Globe master cargo aircraft came from Japan and unloaded equipment for the Balikatan 2006, the codename which means shoulder-to-shoulder for this year's military drills.
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 starting February 20, but most of them will undertake humanitarian missions in far-flung and poor villages on the island.
"The training will refresh the soldiers' fighting capability, but there will be more humanitarian activities and medical missions as part of the Balikatan program," he told the Zamboanga Journal.
More than a thousand Muslims led by the influential Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo, Sharif Ibrahim Ajibul Mohammad Pulalun, held pro-US rally last week and appealed to Washington for more humanitarian aid to the impoverished island used as springboard for terror attacks by the Abu Sayyaf.
The training is expected to bring humanitarian and medical aid to many poor families in Jolo, one of the poorest provinces under the Muslim autonomous region, said Brig. Gen. Alexander Aleo, overall commander of military forces in Jolo.
"US and Filipino troops have started the construction of at least three classrooms in Sulu National High School worth almost two million pesos and we hope to do more in other areas," Aleo said.
Officials said the exercise is consistent with the Mutual Defense Treaty and Visiting Forces Agreement and will improve combined planning of the US and Philippine military forces. It is one of many ongoing activities under the framework of RP-US military security cooperation.
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.
The training program, 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.
Local security officials said the Globe master cargo aircraft came from Japan and unloaded equipment for the Balikatan 2006, the codename which means shoulder-to-shoulder for this year's military drills.
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 starting February 20, but most of them will undertake humanitarian missions in far-flung and poor villages on the island.
"The training will refresh the soldiers' fighting capability, but there will be more humanitarian activities and medical missions as part of the Balikatan program," he told the Zamboanga Journal.
More than a thousand Muslims led by the influential Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo, Sharif Ibrahim Ajibul Mohammad Pulalun, held pro-US rally last week and appealed to Washington for more humanitarian aid to the impoverished island used as springboard for terror attacks by the Abu Sayyaf.
The training is expected to bring humanitarian and medical aid to many poor families in Jolo, one of the poorest provinces under the Muslim autonomous region, said Brig. Gen. Alexander Aleo, overall commander of military forces in Jolo.
"US and Filipino troops have started the construction of at least three classrooms in Sulu National High School worth almost two million pesos and we hope to do more in other areas," Aleo said.
Officials said the exercise is consistent with the Mutual Defense Treaty and Visiting Forces Agreement and will improve combined planning of the US and Philippine military forces. It is one of many ongoing activities under the framework of RP-US military security cooperation.
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.
The training program, 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.
US Navy Sea Hawk helicopters have began transporting personnel to Jolo since Saturday, but more troops and equipment are expected to arrive this week onboard the larger US Chinook choppers and cargo ships.
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.
US Navy Sea Hawk helicopters have began transporting personnel to Jolo since Saturday, but more troops and equipment are expected to arrive this week onboard the larger US Chinook choppers and cargo ships.
In December, American and Filipino troops held their first medical mission in Parang town which benefited more than 1,500 people and just this month, US and Philippine soldiers finished a medical mission for some 1,000 mostly poor Muslims in Indanan town.
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