Reds urged not to attack US troops doing relief work in Quezon

Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan called on the communist rebel movement yesterday to spare from any attack the 600 United States marines who have arrived in the country to help in the rehabilitation of typhoon-ravaged provinces.

And to ensure the safety of the American soldiers, Pangilinan asked the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to limit their participation in relief operations to areas which are not infested by guerrillas of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

"While we welcome help from the international community, we should limit the US troops’ participation to areas where their safety is not compromised," he said.

The senator raised this concern after the NPA guerrillas staged an attack on personnel of the Philippine Army’s 56th Infantry Battalion in Pasong Callos in San Rafael, Bulacan while conducting rescue and relief mission.

At least 10 soldiers were killed, he cited.

"The safety and well-being of our countrymen should be our top priority. However, we cannot have a repeat of the encounter between government troops and communist rebels at the height of the tragedy but this time involving US soldiers," Pangilinan said.

The US government dispatched 600 US marines and navy personnel based in Okinawa, Japan last Tuesday to provide humanitarian assistance and relief to typhoon victims. Tents, water and medical supplies were also sent.

Heavy lift helicopters were also sent to complement the transport facilities of the AFP.

Quezon province bore the brunt of the landslides and floods wrought by typhoons that hit northern Luzon, leaving more than a thousand dead and missing. An estimated 168,000 residents are homeless.

The Pentagon earlier assured the 600 marines and navy personnel will leave as soon as their jobs are finished.

Pangilinan said both the CPP-NPA and government troops, and all Filipinos should unite to alleviate the pain and suffering of those whose lives and homes were devastated by the spate of storms.

"When tens of thousands of our countrymen are adversely affected by natural disasters, national unity is called for," Pangilinan stressed. "Party lines should be crossed and ideological differences should be placed on hold in order to immediately respond to the pressing needs of our people."

US and Philippine military and civilian authorities have set up a joint headquarters at Clark Air Base to coordinate efforts to get large quantities of relief supplies to the affected area.

The US no longer maintains military basing in the Philippines after American forces left Clark Field and Subic naval base more than a decade ago when the Philippine Senate voted not to renew the lease on them.

But the two countries maintain close ties and US troops have recently helped train Filipino forces in battling Muslim guerrilla insurgents in Mindanao.