US troops set to end civic missions

ZAMBOANGA CITY – American troops are ready to complete the socio-economic aspect of their mission to fight terrorism and stop the rise of a new group similar to the Abu Sayyaf.

While more than 1,000 US troops will pull out at month’s end, a small contingent will remain in Basilan and Zamboanga City to oversee the anti-poverty projects.

US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone said Monday the conditions that breed terrorism –like poverty, poor environment and hopelessness –must be addressed properly.

"Otherwise, there are people like the (Abu Sayyaf) who will continue to take their place," he said. "So the story is not over, the job is not done."

Maj. Cynthia Teramae, spokeswoman for the US Joint Task Force 510, said yesterday the mission of US troops would be sustained with humanitarian assistance to "properly address" the root cause of the problem that brought about the Abu Sayyaf.

"You see a large number of us leaving (at month’s end)," she said. "Some will stay behind in order to (provide) humanitarian assistance and get the ball rolling, so to speak, and you will just see many more in the next few months."

Teramae said more than $230,000 will be used to finance medical and dental missions in Basilan and that US troops are expected to conduct 15 missions. "The exercise will end by 31st of July and as we talked before, we will be shifting gears to humanitarian assistance in addition to the $1 million we seek for infrastructure, building a school, and repair of clinics," she said.

"The whole point to all this is to create an atmosphere for the betterment of the people, for the people, by the people and this in fact encourages as well as increases the quality of lives."– Roel Pa