RP, US see sustained security cooperation

As the country’s two highest officials feud over policy toward the United States, Filipino and American military officials are finalizing plans for a longer-term and "sustained program of security cooperation and counter-terrorism training and assistance."

The "sustained program" would be pursued after the conclusion on July 31 of the ongoing joint RP-US "Balikatan 02-1" military exercises, whose terms of reference sparked a row between President Arroyo and Vice President and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teofisto Guingona Jr.

The President acknowledged last week that she had "serious policy differences" with the Vice President when officials from both countries were discussing the presence of US troops in the country.

However, the military announced yesterday that both countries have agreed to pursue the new program that was approved by Armed Forces chief Gen. Roy Cimatu and US Pacific Command chief Adm. Thomas Fargo in Honolulu, Hawaii last week.

According to a joint statement, dated June 27, the new program was being pursued under the RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951.

The program, which is expected to be implemented next year, will include "combined military exercises, exercise-related construction activities, personnel exchanges and ship visits, and security assistance activities," the joint statement read.

Cimatu said American defense officials will arrive on Thursday to discuss with their Filipino counterparts the details of the next Balikatan military exercises.

"To be discussed is what with be the format of the next exercise, specifically how will it serve as a transition from Balikatan to counter-terrorism training," he said.

The next contingent of US forces will be "definitely reduced in number" and that there will be Special Forces units and special operation helicopters, Cimatu added.

According to the joint MDB statement, Cimatu discussed with Fargo "the transition from Balikatan 02-1 into a sustained program of security cooperation and counter terrorism training and assistance."

"The members reiterated that the battle against the Aby Sayyaf terrorists was the AFP’s fight and that the role of US forces is to train, advise and assist," read the statement.

"They agreed that the training and advice provided by the Pacific Command is playing an important role in assisting the AFP in combatting the Abu Sayyaf terrorists," it said.

Cimatu and Fargo agreed upon "sustainable plans which will be submitted to their respective governments for consideration," the statement added.

The MDB statement did not say how many US troops would be involved in the "sustained program" but Mrs. Arroyo, who was in Tagum City in Davao del Norte yesterday, said the next RP-US war games may be held in communist rebel-infested areas in Mindanao.

Mrs. Arroyo made the remark after she presided over a joint meeting of the Southern Mindanao Regional Development Council and the Regional Peace and Order Council at the CAP auditorium in Tagum.

Speaking during rites celebrating Davao del Norte’s 35th anniversary, Mrs. Arroyo ordered Cimatu to present before the Southern Mindanao Regional Peace and Order Council the program for the new Balikatan so he could get the reaction of local government officials.

"And I have asked (General Cimatu) in our regional peace and order council meeting today for Region 11 to make a presentation of the new Balikatan which will follow after the end of Balikatan this July 31," she said.

"General Cimatu will brief the regional officials on the new Balikatan that will follow Balikatan and I also would like to find out what they can say about it. So that we will hear what the people of Region 11 say about working with American forces training our people here in Mindanao and in the Philippines," Mrs. Arroyo said.

Mrs. Arroyo said yesterday Mindanao would remain the venue of the next Balikatan after the current miltary exercises in Basilan and Zamboanga City close at month’s end.

Mrs. Arroyo has asked the support of Southern Mindanao officials for the new Balikatan military exercises between Filipino and American troops.

Mrs. Arroyo announced the holding of the new Balikatan during the second Mindanao Budget Summit at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City last June 22.

"That while the military training portion of Balikatan 02-1 will end on July 31, we shall start the next Balikatan immediately because the Mutual Defense Board is meeting anyway, so by that time, July 31, comes, I hope that they have the nex t Balikatan already worked out," she said.

"Though, of course, as a result of the clamor from people all over the country, this time, the Balikatan will be more geographically spread out, unlike this Balikatan, which, upon my request, had been concentrated in Basilan," the Chief Executive said.

Earlier, Mrs. Arroyo discussed with US President George W. Bush the new Balikatan during their telephone conversation a few days after the encounter between Navy commandos and the Abu Sayyaf in waters off Sibuco in Zamboanga del Norte that led to the death of terrorist leader Abu Sabaya.

Mrs. Arroyo urged that the new Balikatan be started immediately after Balikatan 02-1 comes to an end.

Sources at the Departmemt of National Defense said the military exercises could cover training for troops in Southern and Central Mindanao, particlularly those deployed againt the NPA and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) – Paolo Romero, Marichu Villanueva, Edith Regalado, AFP