Rehabilitated Basilan airport reopened

MENZI AIRFIELD, Basilan - The screeching of the tires and the roaring of the engine of a military C-130 cargo plane as it taxied at 10:30 a.m. here yesterday may have signaled the arrival of new hope, peace, development and stability in this poverty-stricken and war-torn province.

The landing of the C-130 military plane was a moving spectacle to local government leaders, local military men and residents who lived in terror for the past several years. A thunder of applause erupted once the aircraft touched down and taxied to a stop down the airstrip.

On board the C-130 was a delegation led by Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes who formally turned over the airstrip to local government officials represented by Rep. Gerry Salapuddin.

Yesterday’s landing of the C-130 plane here was the first for a huge Philippine military aircraft since the early 1970s.

The airstrip, located in Barangay Kabunbata less than 10 kilometers from the provincial capital of Isabela City, was abandoned at the height of the war between government troops and Muslim secessionists.

It was reconstructed with the assistance of US navy Seabees who are participating in the joint RP-US Balikatan 02-1 military exercise ending this month.

"This airfield is a symbol that reminds us of the advent of development, commerce and transport (in the province). It symbolizes the commitment of the Republic of the Philippines in its campaign against terrorism," Reyes said.

Basilan has been a haven for the Abu Sayyaf group, a band of Muslim rebels who engaged in kidnap-for-ransom activities and is linked to the al-Qaeda terror network of Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden.

"The province of Basilan had undergone all the difficulties, almost insurmountable challenges and it has proven equal to the challenges. Its residents have proven their determination to keep the faith and stay with the government," Reyes said.

He narrated during his remarks in the turnover ceremonies of the airstrip that several members of his delegation were anxious whether the C-130 could land properly in the reconstructed airstrip. He said he did not doubt that they could land properly.

Maj. Gen. Glicerio Sua, chief of the military anti-Abu Sayyaf unit Task Force Comet, said the reopening of the airstrip is another successful joint venture of the Basilan residents and military.

Sua said the airstrip will facilitate the easy transfer of supplies and personnel for security and humanitarian operations, notably times of disasters and calamities.

"Let us make this airfield a symbolic monument to the goodwill, understanding and cooperation of the peoples of the United States of America and the Republic of the Philippines," Sua said.

Sua thanked the US government and US troops involved in the reconstruction of the airstrip.

On the other hand, Salapuddin said the inauguration of the expanded airstrip means that normalcy has returned to Basilan.

"The fight is not yet completely won. We have just started normalizing the peace and order situation in Basilan. The fight is still here. The fight to eradicate poverty which is the root cause of rebellion," Salapuddin said.

He recalled that the original airfield was built by industrialist Gen. Hanz Menzi in the late 1940s. Menzi, who stayed in Basilan after World War II, acquired the land for the airfield under the terms of the parity rights where Americans can buy land in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Air Transportation Office chief Undersecretary Adelberto Yap said the airfield is "very safe" and classified as a secondary airport that can accommodate turbo-prop aircraft.

Yap said the airfield can be maintained by his office if it were placed under it. The airfield is owned by private individuals.

If a memorandum of agreement can be worked out with the owners, it is possible to build a terminal, set up airfield facilities and equipment such as control tower and visual approach lights.

An estimated P40 million is needed to fully refurbish the airfield.

Yap said an improvement of the airfield will provide the necessary air access to develop the province.

Ambush in Sulu

An Abu Sayyaf bandit was killed while several others were wounded in an ambush yesterday afternoon in a remote Sulu town, military reports said.

Reports reaching the Armed Forces Southern Command only identified the Abu Sayyaf bandit as Raduk, who is believed to be a follower of Galib Andang.

The report said the Abu Sayyaf ambushed the group of Sulu lawmaker Ibrahim Dingkahan who was with a convoy of army and police vehicles in barangay Manggi in Indanan town shortly after 3 p.m.

Dingkahan and his wife were hurt, while retaliating police and army men killed Raduk.

Sulu Gov. Yusop Jikiri said he believes the Abu Sayyaf ambush was intended to get a new batch of hostages. Two of Jikiri’s men were also hurt in the ambush.