"The terrorists are still on the loose, breaking dreams of people who aspire for peace and freedom, " Armed Forces Southern Command (Southcom) chief Lt. Gen. Narciso Abaya told a batch of 120 Filipino troops and an advance party of US soldiers during the opening ceremonies at the heavily secured camp in Barangay Malagutay.
"We have to put an end with finality to this menace that is threatening the very essence of democracy," Abaya said.
US troops are to train 12 "light infantry battalions" of about 6,000 Filipino soldiers in intelligence gathering and counter-terrorism tactics against the Abu Sayyaf, wanted for kidnap-for-ransom and murder of dozens of locals and foreigners in the last three years.
Abaya urged the Filipino troops to take the training seriously. "Do not underestimate the importance of this (training). We have incurred a lot of casualties because of poor appreciation of the basics," he said.
"As we hone our skills, let us expect also that the terrorists are also doing that, even at a faster and deadlier pace," Abaya added.
Col. Douglas Lengenfelder, commander of the US Joint Operations Task Force here said several companies will also be trained to conduct "sustained counter terrorist capability to execute precision operations."
"The total training program will take approximately a year," he told the Filipino troops. "You are about to enter a demanding program that will challenge you everyday."
Lengenfelder said the training, part of the $25-million long term security assistance of the US government to the Philippines, will start today in Malagutay on the outskirts of the city.
"But that is a small cost to pay to combat terrorism," he said.
Lengenfelder said the exercises will also involve training in close quarter combat and maneuver of light battalions.
The training will be held in the 38-hectare military camp which is located three kilometers west of Southcom headquarters dotted with rolling hills.
A senior Filipino military official disclosed that the training will also be held in the forested mountain complex in Anuling, 30 kilometers west of this city and in Basilan for live fire exercises. – With AFP