AFP: Troops moving in Mindanao because of Reds, not coup

Yes, there were troop movements in Mindanao. Yes, military warplanes and helicopters flew unlit in the night sky over Zamboanga City. Yes, there is a red alert. No, there is no destabilization effort against the government.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) admitted yesterday that there were indeed troop movements in Mindanao, but that these were not part of a rumored destabilization plot to topple the Arroyo administration.

Rather, the troop movements were mounted against communist insurgents in the South.

AFP chief Gen. Narciso Abaya said these troop movements required that he be in constant and direct contact with his military commanders in the field.

"As a matter of fact, as of late yesterday, I kept on checking with other area commands about troop movements," Abaya said. "We talked directly with the battalion commander... Indeed, there were troop movements, but they were operating against the NPA (New People’s Army)."

Abaya said the soldiers who moved out of their camp in Misamis are now in Josefina town, where they established their tactical command post as part of ongoing anti-insurgency operations.

He also belied reports that troops based in Cotabato and Davao have moved out of their camps without authorization.

"There were text information that there were troop movements in Davao and Cotabato. We checked with the division commander in the area and he said there was no troop movement," Abaya said.

Earlier reports reaching The STAR said military troops based in Mindanao, along with their counterparts in the Bicol Region and northern Luzon, have reportedly moved out of their camps purportedly to attend a "grand wedding" in Metro Manila.

Sources said the "grand wedding" was, in fact, a bigger and wider destabilization plot against the Arroyo administration.

Because of this, major entry points into Metro Manila from southern and northern Luzon were secured by combined police and military forces backed by armored personnel carriers since late last week.

The military has been put on red alert nationwide to preclude any security problems related to the expected rallies for and against the impeachment of Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.

AFP vice chief and spokesman Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia brushed aside speculations that the red alert was raised to avert a national security backlash from the failed but bloody takeover of a control tower at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

"Do not misinterpret that the red alert is another possible destabilization (plot) in the offing or (an indicator) of any military adventurist matter. It is not definitely that," he said. "There is no connection and, in fact, we deny that there is such a destabilization or military adventurist activities in the offing."

Garcia said the military is always ready to preserve the peace and order that might be complicated by the impeachment controversy.

He also said that once the military has assessed the threats that may be triggered by the impeachment controversy, the red alert will immediately be lifted. For the time being, Garcia said troops belonging to Task Force Libra and the Army’s civil disturbance unit are now on call inside AFP headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

In Zamboanga City, the periodic humming of war planes and the roar of military Huey helicopters flying unlit under cover of darkness triggered apprehensions in city residents.

However, 3rd Tactical Operation Wing chief Brig. Gen. Claudio Estanilla said the flights are part of night-flying activities conducted using night vision equipment and by visiting United States forces. The 3rd TOW is based at the Edwin Andrews Air Force Base here.

Estanilla said Philippine Air Force (PAF) pilots are being trained to conduct these night flying exercises with night vision equipment to enhance the operability of the PAF and boost its capability to launch night operations.

"There is nothing to worry about (regarding) this night flying activity," he said. "This is part of the AFP effort to enhance our forces, especially the Air Force, to utilize air assets even in night operations."

The military pilots have been under this training for the past months with the US air force under the Bayanihan exercise. They are flying OV-10 bomber planes, MG-520 attack helicopters and UH-1H Huey helicopters.

Estanilla said the AFP relies mainly on these three types of aircraft to provide air support for ground troops in operations against insurgents, rescue operations and surveillance missions.

The military also relies heavily on the Huey helicopters for troop transport, troop insertion into battle zones and air evacuation of wounded soldiers.

Estanilla said the night flying training is part of the five modules of the Bayanihan Training Exercise that include the light infantry battalion, light reaction company and intelligence fusion.

Some 300 US soldiers are still deployed in Zamboanga City to conduct the training that is expected to end by December.