100 US troops due in Zambo to help crush Sayyaf rebels

ZAMBOANGA CITY — More than 100 American military advisers are to arrive here in February to help the Armed Forces crush the Abu Sayyaf holdouts in Western Mindanao, the military said yesterday.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Diomedio Villanueva insisted, however, that while the US troopers will be allowed access to the "battle front," they will not be in direct contact with the extremists who are still holding an American couple and a Filipina nurse hostage.

"They may go to the front but we will not allow them to be in direct contact with the enemy," Villanueva said, stressing that the Americans’ role will be confined only to training military special operations units.

"Going to the frontline does not necessarily mean that they will be the ones going on direct contact with the enemy," Villanueva said after he visited a Scout Ranger base in the Sampinit mountain range in nearby Basilan island.

Villanueva said the US military advisers will inspect "front conditions" so they would know what their local counterparts need to crush the extremists.

"They will be there to assess what is needed to be able to enhance the capability of our armed forces and go back to the training center here to consult and discuss their assessment," the AFP chief added.

Nonetheless, Southcom chief Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu explained the Americans would likely be close but still behind the frontline.

"You are still in the battle front even if you are one, two or three kilometers away from the fighting area," Cimatu said. "That’s how far these American soldiers will be from the fighting area."

An advance party of eight US military advisers has already arrived at the military’s Southern Command (Southcom) headquarters here to "check on logistics and prepare training materials."

The advance party is actually checking the barracks that are now being constructed for the Americans in Camp Gen. Arturo Enrile, about three kilometers from the Southcom headquarters.

The camp is expected to be the main site for the special operations training of additional elements to the "light reaction company" (LRC) that consists of US-trained Filipino troopers.

The camp will be the main living quarters of the US servicemen, 25 of whom are expected to arrive here next week to commence training.

While both Villanueva and Cimatu did not clarify what equipment the US advisers would be bringing to the "front," military observers opined US troops would likely be accompanied by sufficient air and naval support.

The Americans are also expected to utilize special technology for remote command-and-control for various operations, including night-time assault missions.

The US military assistance is part of the aid package that US President George W. Bush pledged to Manila during the recent US visit of President Arroyo.

Both Manila and Washington have linked the Abu Sayyaf to the al-Qaeda terrorist network of Osama bin Laden, blamed for the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on Washington DC and New York.

Meanwhile, the European Union lauded the Arroyo administration for its "firm stance and great determination" in fighting local and international terrorism.

In a media briefing on Spain’s policies during its leadership of the 15-nation group, Spanish Ambassador Tomas Rodriguez Pantoja said the EU will continue to support any kind of operation against terrorism.

"We would support any kind of operation against terrorism. This would be a welcome move be it in the Philippines or elsewhere," Pantoja said.

"The Union appreciates the firm stance and great determination that President Gloria Arroyo has taken against the terrorist menace, including local threats such as the Abu Sayyaf," he added.

Pantoja said the EU, under Spain’s stewardship, will "devote special attention in its fight against international terrorism." – With Pia Lee-Brago, Paolo Romero