Majority of Sulu residents welcome Balikatan 03-1

ZAMBOANGA CITY — A majority of residents of Sulu have welcomed the holding of the joint Philippine-US military exercise and humanitarian mission in the island chain."The majority of the people here welcome the holding of the Balikatan 03-1, citing the benefit that (they) will get not only in terms of peace and order but also infrastructure and other humanitarian missions," said Col. Alexander Aleo, commander of the Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade.

Many local executives favor Sulu as the site of the war games, expressing disgust over the reluctance of their leaders to end poverty in the province."The very cause of terrorism here is poverty," said a town official who asked not to be named.

"Poverty breeds terrorism because many people are feeling hopeless. Now here is a solution, why not try it." Luuk, Sulu officials stood by their earlier manifesto sent to the Office of the President, requesting that their municipality be the site of the Balikatan. Sulu Gov. Yusup Jikiri, who had resented not being consulted when his province was chosen as the Balikatan site, could not be reached for comment.

A military official said government troops are ready to secure US soldiers who would be deployed in Sulu for the Balikatan.The Americans will train Filipino soldiers in hand-to-hand combat and anti-terrorism operations.

However, the military official said a small militant group is agitating residents to oppose the plan to hold the Balikatan in the province."They are instigating the people here, speculating US forces to conduct operation," the military official said.

Known as Concerned Citizens‘ Alliance, the anti-Balikatan group is rallying against President Arroyo‘s announcement that Sulu would be the site of the military exercise.The group reminded Sulu residents that hundreds of Muslims were killed by American colonial troops during a pacification campaign in 1900.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Narciso Abaya said the terms of reference (TOR) for this year‘s Balikatan were still being discussed but assured that US troops would not be allowed to go with Filipino soldiers on jungle patrol, just like in the previous military exercise.

Abaya said there is yet no definite number of US troops that would take part in the forthcoming Balikatan.

A senior US official told The STAR that Abaya discussed a number of possible scenarios with Brig. Gen. Joseph Weber, all consistent with the Philippine Constitution, to see what the AFP thought was achievable.

Abaya and Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes were informed three days ago that Weber would have to provide the US Pacific Command a final recommendation and assessment. – Roel Pareño, Benjie Villa