‘Balikatan has greatly improved fighting capability of AFP’

A US military official said yesterday the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has greatly improved its capability to fight Abu Sayyaf terrorist guerrillas in Mindanao as a result of a joint military training exercise between the two countries.

Brig. Gen. Donald Wurster, commander of the US forces participating in the six-month war games in the island-province of Basilan and nearby Zamboanga City, also revealed that talks were going on for the grant to the AFP of military hardware and communications equipment.

Wurster also cited roads in Basilan that were newly constructed or rehabilitated by the US Seabees and military engineers under the social outreach component of the maneuvers dubbed Balikatan 02-1.

"One thing that is different in Basilan now is that the AFP has a very good ability to move. So if they (Abu Sayyaf bandits) show up in some place, the AFP can move on a high quality road to get there in a hurry," Wurster said.

The joint military exercise has US Special Forces training Filipino soldiers in anti-terrorism warfare.

"This is bound to cause the ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group) to think twice about what they do and where they do it because the (Philippine) military is now better and they can move faster," Wurster stressed.

On the possibility of a resurgence of Abu Sayyaf terrorist activities after the US forces have been pulled out, Wurster said "I think the AFP is properly organized, trained and equipped to do the job."

Meanwhile, Philippine troops continued to track down the remaining Abu Sayyaf leaders following the reported death of its spokesman, Aldam Tilao alias Abu Sabaya, last month.

The top Abu Sayyaf commanders being hunted down carry a rich bounty on their heads, including the $5 million offered by Washington. They are Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadafy Janjalani, Isnilon Hapilon, Hamsiraji Sali and Abu Solaiman.

Wurster warned Philippine authorities against underestimating the Abu Sayyaf, saying; "You could not choose a harder situation."

He described the Abu Sayyaf as a "mobile enemy, with no fixed infrastructure, moves in small groups and enjoys good intelligence network."

"Chasing a small group in the jungle is extremely difficult and dangerous. It takes a lot of people to do that. Takes good intelligence to do that and technology as well," Wurster said.

He said the AFP can match the Abu Sayyaf’s mass base intelligence network by also tapping the help of civilians.

"What we want is to have the AFP connected to the people so the AFP can find where they (Abu Sayyaf terrorists) are," Wurster said.

The US official also disclosed that a joint operation center is being set up within the AFP’s Southern Command where the four major services including the Marines can work together.