US forces deny Sulu hospital takeover

(Penned on January 2, 2008; Published in Zamboanga Today on January 3, 2008; Posted in this blogsite January 9, 2008.)

“The US government has had no role in any discussions or decisions about the opening hours of the Panamao District hospital. US Soldiers have not been involved in keeping the hospital closed or open,” said US Embassy spokesman Rebecca Thompson when asked about the reported closure of the US forces of night operations of the Panamao District Hospital in Sulu.

“The leadership of the Joint Special Operations Task Force (Philippines) supports any inquiry by the AFP or civilian leadership into this matter.” This was part of the official statement of the US military in the Philippines yesterday.

Panamao District Hospital chief Dr. Silak Lakkian in the second week of December had reportedly complained over the action of a certain Master Sgt. Ron Berg, who allegedly ordered the closure of hospital operations at night, initially without offering a particular reason. Lakkian said it was on November 30 that the hospital chief nurse was told by Berg, then accompanied by another soldier named Chris de Palma, to close before 6 in the evening.

However, first municipal councilor Pajiri Jumah of Panamao, speaking on behalf of the mayor who was not in town that time, said that the suspension of night operations of the hospital was for ‘security reasons’ which he could not also elaborate on, but added that he is hoping and “asking the concerned agency to resume the nightly operations of the hospital for the sake of the residents.”

It was on the eve of November 30 when the Philippine Armed Forces went on a military offensive, following the commander-in-chief Gloria Arroyo’s no let-up order despite the holidays. Philippine military intelligence had received information about retaliation plans of the forces Moro National Liberation Front commander Ustadz Habier Malik, eyeing in particular the military detachment of the 11th Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) in Lake Se-it, Panamao.

“Sadly, the Panamao District Hospital stood between the Marines’ camp, and the airfield,” Jumah added.

A local citizen observed, however that, “The Americans were most likely concerned for the safety of the staff of the hospital. The hospital generally does not operate at night and there were no patients there that night.”

A local government employee however said that one of the local officials, along with an AFP representative, went to talk to the hospital staff and the mayor and suggested that they remain outside the hospital at night so they would not get caught in any cross fire if Malik’s crew attacked.

“Mayor Abdugafur Abdurajak agreed and they relocated to another location only 200 meters away. Somehow that was interpreted as a long term order, not a short term suggestion,” said an aide of the Panamao mayor.

On December 24, the American soldiers talked to the hospital administrator once more and Dr. Lakkian had realized the the alleged hospital night operations suspension was not intended for long, because of the location of the hospital and the camp.

Expressing concern over the proximity of the hospital to the AFP camp, Dr. Lakkian stressed that the hospital was built two years ahead of the military detachment, and since it is serving 4 municipalities, she hopes that it is the military detachment that would move out of the area.

Replying to the allegation that the US military cut off the energy power of the hospital, a hospital staff also commented that, “The Americans have never supplied power to the hospital and they could not have “cut off” power to the hospital.”

Mimi Asimuddin, 35 years old and a resident of Se-it vicinity, said that the nightly operations of the hospital need to be resumed. “I have seen that there are more patients coming in at night.”

Diding Abduhalim, 65 years old and a retail store owner said that recently, patients suffering from diarrhea had to be sent back home because the hospital was closed at night. She lamented that some of these patients live about 40 kilometers away from the area, and transportation costs up to P3000 per trip.

Task Force Comet commander Gen. Ruben Rafael however read the issue as a “miscommunication between the hospital personnel and the American soldiers.”

JSOTFP Public Affairs Officer Lt. Cdr. Melissa Schuermann said, “The JSOTF is present in the Philippines at the request of the Philippine government in a supportive role to Armed Forces of the Philippines.”

“The United States Military has a long-standing relationship and history of cooperation and respect with the leadership and service members of the AFP and the citizens of the Philippines,” Schuermann concluded. (Frencie L. Carreon)