AFP: ‘US has no plans to establish a base’

By Frencie L. Carreon

The US military has no intention to put up a base in Zamboanga or any part of southern Philippines, a military spokesman said to Zamboanga Today.

“The United States has no plan to establish a base here,” Western Mindanao Command deputy spokesman Captain Rommel Miguel stressed, saying that such is the official statement on the part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“That issue with the ATO (Air Transportation Office) has been coordinated with national government authorities from the start. The US military does not just come into Philippine territories without properly informing the AFP or the Philippine Government,” Miguel said.

The JSOTFP, which has been under assail from some citizens’ groups who attempted to go inside its premises within Camp Basilio Navarro here in Zamboanga City, occupies a land area of few hundred square meters where visiting soldiers are temporarily deployed and quartered in improvised facilities.

“Bien otro el set-up alla na Clark (Air Base) y Subic (Naval Base) antes (It’s a very much different set-up at Clark and Subic before),” the WesMinCom acting spokesman said.

In a number of occasions, JSOTFP has invited Philippine and international media inside the premises, and a handful of government officials in separate occasions.

During the annual joint military exercises dubbed as ‘Balikatan’ in February, US forces who are visiting for a two-to-three week period stay at Camp Arturo Enrile in Malagutay, also here in Zamboanga.

A small contingent is likewise deployed in Sulu to assist the Joint Task Force Sulu and Task Force Comet whenever requested. A team is also stationed in Tawi-Tawi to assist Naval Task Force 62 of the Philippine Navy in the conduct of its community services and humanitarian support programs.

WesMinCom however emphasized that the number of US soldiers in the said areas is but minimal, and cited SockSarGen region and the Lanao provinces, being the areas where the Philippine Armed Forces are conducting humanitarian aid programs that are meant to cushion the impact of previous and on-going conflicts.

NO PARTICIPATION IN COMBAT OPERATIONS

“There are sectors who insist there are US forces directly participating in combat operations,” the WesMinCom deputy spokesman admitted, adding, “That’s a big ‘no’."

“They have not been part of operations, but only in purely civil military assistance activities. There is no involvement of US troops especially the one in Central Mindanao,” Miguel said.

US PRESENCE IN LANAO CLEARED

WesMinCom deputy spokesman Captain Rommel Miguel made a clarification regarding the issue raised by some sectors on the presence of the US military in Central Mindanao.

“This is not the first time a contingent of US forces are there in Lanao,” Miguel said. “They have been doing with us a number of humanitarian projects, ranging from MEDCAPs to engineering projects in Lanao since two years ago,” he added.

“Right now they are helping us out in building an irrigation system there,” he said.

Iligan City, an industrial city and recently a neighboring area of a conflict site, is also known for Maria Cristina Falls, one of the Philippines’ source of energy. Reports in the recent years however have alarmed environmentalists as the water level of the power source in said Falls is decreasing. Building a water system in the towns of Lumbayanague and Masiu in Lanao would certainly be helpful to the residents, the military said.

Earlier, WesMinCom chief Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga reiterated that American soldiers are not involved in combat operations against a local group of rebels led by Commanders Bravo and Kato who are being relentlessly pursued by Filipino soldiers for having led the August pillage in communities in Lanao del Norte.

JUST HELPING OUT AS AFP PARTNERS

“JSOFTP has been helping us out as partners of AFP in several aspects. In Zamboanga City, we do humanitarian services and support to community projects whenever possible,” Miguel concluded.

As the allegation arises on the total number of US soldiers in Mindanao, a military officer based in Camp Emilio Aguinaldo and speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “The number of US troops actually does not matter. What is important is they are our allies, and they are abiding with the provisions of Philippine laws. And of course, most importantly, they are doing their mission here which is to support the security in the Southeast Asian region; because whether we like it or not, the US military is among the strongest and most equipped in the world. We should be grateful we are being assisted, and our soldiers trained and equipped.” (Frencie L. Carreon)