WELCOME UNCLE SAM:Pro-US supporters in Jolo island on Saturday, 11 Feb 2006. Above, Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo, Sharif Ibrahim Ajibul Mohammad Pulalun. (Zamboanga Journal)JOLO Island (Zamboanga Journal / 11 Feb) More than 1,000 Muslims staged a surprising pro-US rally Friday in Jolo, where thousands of American and Filipino soldiers are to start a month-long joint military drills and humanitarian mission in the impoverished island, about 950 km south of Manila.
Hundreds of placard-bearing villagers, some came as far as the Parang town, south of the island, to join the rally led by the influential Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo, Sharif Ibrahim Ajibul Mohammad Pulalun.
It was the first time the secluded Pulalun came out in the open to publicly support the Balikatan (shoulder-to-shourlder) 2006, the codename for the RP-US military drills.
"I call on every Muslims in Sulu to support the government and the Balikatan program because this will bring us more humanitarian aid. Let us show the world that we are peaceful citizens. I appeal to every Muslims to welcome our American visitors and support their peaceful cause," the 50-year old leader said.
The huge crowd gathered in downtown Jolo where many people were spotted waving hundreds of small US and Philippine flags and placards welcoming the Americans. "We Love You America, Welcome!," one placard reads.
Hundreds of placard-bearing villagers, some came as far as the Parang town, south of the island, to join the rally led by the influential Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo, Sharif Ibrahim Ajibul Mohammad Pulalun.
It was the first time the secluded Pulalun came out in the open to publicly support the Balikatan (shoulder-to-shourlder) 2006, the codename for the RP-US military drills.
"I call on every Muslims in Sulu to support the government and the Balikatan program because this will bring us more humanitarian aid. Let us show the world that we are peaceful citizens. I appeal to every Muslims to welcome our American visitors and support their peaceful cause," the 50-year old leader said.
The huge crowd gathered in downtown Jolo where many people were spotted waving hundreds of small US and Philippine flags and placards welcoming the Americans. "We Love You America, Welcome!," one placard reads.
"This is why we really want, we need the Americans to help us fight terrorism and so we may live peacefully here," Abdulgafur Omar, a 29-year old trader, told the Zamboanga Journal.
Omar said he joined the rally after he heard Pulalun appealing on local radio stations for the public to support the military drills because it would bring medical aid to the island.
"That is what we need here, medicines and other assistance, like schools and clinics and the white soldiers to build mosques for free. That is what they say about this thing called Balikatan, this is really good and the Americans are kind people," he said.
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.
But Jolo is also a known stronghold of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, blamed for the spate of kidnappings and terrorism in the troubled southern region, and any attack on US soldiers could jeopardize government efforts to bring aid and development to the island.
Just Friday, suspected Abu Sayyaf militants assassinated a police intelligence officer in downtown Jolo and beheaded another man and his body left near a garbage dump.
Authorities tagged the brother Anni and Itting Sailani as behind the killings. The two were also implicated in the killing of a Filipino photojournalist Gene Boyd Lumawag in Jolo island in November 2004.
This year's joint training exercise is the 22nd in a series that began in 1981, and would involve infantry and marine troops from both countries.
Omar said he joined the rally after he heard Pulalun appealing on local radio stations for the public to support the military drills because it would bring medical aid to the island.
"That is what we need here, medicines and other assistance, like schools and clinics and the white soldiers to build mosques for free. That is what they say about this thing called Balikatan, this is really good and the Americans are kind people," he said.
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.
But Jolo is also a known stronghold of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, blamed for the spate of kidnappings and terrorism in the troubled southern region, and any attack on US soldiers could jeopardize government efforts to bring aid and development to the island.
Just Friday, suspected Abu Sayyaf militants assassinated a police intelligence officer in downtown Jolo and beheaded another man and his body left near a garbage dump.
Authorities tagged the brother Anni and Itting Sailani as behind the killings. The two were also implicated in the killing of a Filipino photojournalist Gene Boyd Lumawag in Jolo island in November 2004.
This year's joint training exercise is the 22nd in a series that began in 1981, and would involve infantry and marine troops from both countries.
Security would be tight during the exercises to protect the US and Filippino soldiers against possible attacks by Abu Sayyaf militants.
The Abu Sayyaf previously threatened to attack US targets in the Philippines, and had killed three Americans, including a soldier, in Zamboanga City in 2002.
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, advise 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, engineering, equipment, maintenance and helicopter programs.
This year's joint training is the 22nd in a series of drills that began in 1981, and would involve about 250 US troops and 4,000 Filipino infantry and marine soldiers, said Brig. Gen. Nehemias Pajarito, commander of the Philippine Army in Jolo.
"This is agood training because it will enhance the skills of soldiers from both countries. The Balikatan will also bring humanitarian aid to the island," he said.
Security is tight during the exercises to protect the US and Filippino soldiers against possible attacks by Abu Sayyaf militants. The Abu Sayyaf previously threatened to attack US targets in the Philippines, and had killed three Americans, including a soldier, in Zamboanga City in 2002.
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, advise 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, engineering, equipment, maintenance and helicopter programs.
It will also enhance the skills and capabilities of Filipino and Amercian 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.
"This is agood training because it will enhance the skills of soldiers from both countries. The Balikatan will also bring humanitarian aid to the island," he said.
Security is tight during the exercises to protect the US and Filippino soldiers against possible attacks by Abu Sayyaf militants. The Abu Sayyaf previously threatened to attack US targets in the Philippines, and had killed three Americans, including a soldier, in Zamboanga City in 2002.
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, advise 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, engineering, equipment, maintenance and helicopter programs.
It will also enhance the skills and capabilities of Filipino and Amercian 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.
About 250 US soldiers and over a thousand Filipino troops are expected to participate in the training set to start next week. The training is part of Washington's security assistance to the Philippines, a key US ally in Southeast Asia in the so-called global war on terrorism.
Officials said the training would only be for about two weeks, but US and Filipino soldiers may stay longer for the conduct of medical mission and other humanitarian activities in poor areas in Jolo.
A small group of US troops are already in Jolo and active in humanitarian mission, the island's military chief Brig. Gen. Alexander Aleo said. "Filipino and US troops are active in medical mission, and we are to start joint training and humanitarian activities in the coming weeks," he said.
It will also enhance the skills and capabilities of Filipino and Amercian 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.
Officials said the training would only be for about two weeks, but US and Filipino soldiers may stay longer for the conduct of medical mission and other humanitarian activities in poor areas in Jolo.
A small group of US troops are already in Jolo and active in humanitarian mission, the island's military chief Brig. Gen. Alexander Aleo said. "Filipino and US troops are active in medical mission, and we are to start the joint training and other humanitarian activities," he said.
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.
Officials said the training would only be for about two weeks, but US and Filipino soldiers may stay longer for the conduct of medical mission and other humanitarian activities in poor areas in Jolo.
A small group of US troops are already in Jolo and active in humanitarian mission, the island's military chief Brig. Gen. Alexander Aleo said. "Filipino and US troops are active in medical mission, and we are to start the joint training and other humanitarian activities," he said.
Gen. Aleo praised the sultan for his strong support to the Balikatan. "We really appreciate the support of Sultan Pulalun and the Muslim people because we are also for peace," he said.
"We ask for nothing in return, but I humbly appeal to the government to help our poor people and give them access to basic services, such as health and education," Sultan Pulalun, who is active in humanitarian works in the south, said.
Many poor Muslims in Jolo only benefit from free medical services when non-governmental organizations conduct humanitarian missions or after months of fierce battle between military and rebel forces.
Last year, Italian philanthropist Armando De Rossi brought tons of relief aid to Jolo to feed thousands of war refugees after month-long clashes between troops and rebels that killed dozens of people.
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