US troops pull out of Jolo

American troops packed up and pulled out of Jolo, Sulu yesterday, leaving residents with mixed emotions at the end of the RP-US "Balikatan 2006" humanitarian mission.

"The troops packed up and they’re gone," Lt. Col. Mark Zimmer, spokesman for the US Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) said.

But Zimmer said perhaps a few of the nearly 300-strong contingent will be coming back to follow up on the programs the US forces have implemented.

There was a mixture of praise and sadness as residents of Jolo watched US soldiers board the air-cushioned hovercraft that ferried them to a waiting US navy carrier in the Sulu Sea.

Shouts of farewell came from everywhere as the troops aboard the military trucks passed by gathered civilians in downtown Jolo.

"Thank you very much for the schools you built. We will deeply miss you for helping us in Panamao," one of the placards read.

"All the people sang songs and it was very touching because there was a great acceptance from the people about the presence of the US soldiers, contrary to the reports that (we) would be met with strong opposition," Zimmer said.

"The American soldiers were moved because the people really loved us being here," he added.

Col. James Linder, JSOTF-P commander, said they had waged and won peace in Jolo when asked by journalists to comment on their success with Sulu residents.

Linder appealed to the media to tell what really went on during the US soldiers’ stay.

"Today, I’m asking you to carry a message, a message of freedom, of hope and goodwill. I want you to carry a message that rings in the ears of politicians and decision makers from Manila to Washington. I want the world to know what we are doing in the Philippines, in Jolo. We are waging peace and we are winning that peace," Linder said in his closing remarks.

Linder said the media should give equal recognition to the "nation builders" — the silent professionals who build nations and carry the people beyond their hopes and aspirations; to the leaders, the military professionals, the policemen, doctors, soldiers, marines, engineers, and the laborers who have toiled and sacrificed for Jolo.

"Their energy, resourcefulness and ingenuity is the engine that moves us ahead. The first steps have been taken. But there is more to be done," Linder said.

Linder also said their presence in Jolo was meant to return the favor to the Philippine government which was among the first to respond to the US call for help after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, Louisiana last year.

He also thanked local residents who made sure none of his men would be harmed while helping build Sulu.

"You have watched over the sons and daughters of America and kept them from harm. You have seen this gesture of help for what it is. You have seen with your own eyes that this is the highest calling of men: to help one another, not harm; and to build, not destroy," Linder said.

Linder said the success of the mission belied reports that Jolo was an island not yet ready for peace.

"Jolo is sending a clear message to everyone that the Tausug want a better life and they are willing do what needs to be done to achieve a brighter future. With the Armed Forces of the Philippines to provide security and assistance, you are only beginning to taste the fruits of freedom and prosperity," Linder said.

US claims victory in war on terror in Sulu

The US forces also claimed success in the war on terror through its development and humanitarian mission.

"When we succeed here, the foreign terrorists will have to leave. The terrorists won’t be able to use Jolo for protection. They won’t be able to make people fear them. They won’t be able to spread the message of hatred and violence because you will have seen the truth with your own eyes," said Linder.

Linder said with 262 Americans dispatched to Jolo, in just 11 days, US and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) health care workers provided medical assistance to over 11,600 patients.

US doctors dispensed over P2.6 million in pharmaceutical drugs and nearly 1,500 people received dental care, 800 received eyeglasses or eye exams, and 453 underwent minor surgery.

Over 3,200 children were immunized against illness and veterinarians treated 175 animals and livestock.

During this period, the US forces flew 463 sorties of helicopters and airplanes, carrying nearly 230,000 pounds of cargo and ferrying over 1,700 people to and from Jolo.

American and Filipino engineers, carpenters, electricians and others built four new school buildings and nine new classrooms in Jolo, Tiptipon and Maimbung at a cost of nearly P8 million.

Well drillers dug two wells and deepened another at a cost of over P2.6 million.

United States AID Computer Literacy and Internet Connection Program or CLIC program donated new student desks, teachers’ desks, chairs, computers and internet connection service, sports equipment, textbooks and chalkboards.

During Balikatan exercises, contracts for shipping, airplanes, food, water, medicine, construction materials and equipment rental were brought to Filipino businessmen and women from Manila to Jolo, and jobs were created, at a cost of over P20 million.

Linder said the mission in Jolo is only the beginning and much more is planned including more construction projects.

He said the improvement of roads will soon be underway, water distribution systems and projects are being designed and planned, school renovations will occur, "and health care facility improvements are on the horizon."

Pinoy soldiers ready to combat terror

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija — Filipino soldiers are now more capable of combating terrorism in an urban setting, as terrorists are now shifting the battleground from the countryside to the cities.

US Marine Lt. Clint Gebke, public affairs officer of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, said they were impressed at how their Filipino counterparts in the Balikatan 2006 RP-US joint military exercises held in this camp were learning necessary skills to conduct military operations on urban terrain, after two weeks of rigid training with their American counterparts.

"The inter-operability of Filipino and US troops are very good. They display a good sense of cooperation and when we get to work together, we would not have a hard time," Gebke told The STAR.

He said an example of this inter-operability was when they worked alongside Filipino soldiers in search and rescue efforts during the tragic landslide in St. Bernard, Southern Leyte.

"We were able to react within 24 hours after the incident because the working relationship with Philippine troops and the government was good and that enough is proof that we could work together efficiently," Gebke said.

US Army Sgt. Jessie Johnson, now on his fifth Balikatan, said in an interview that he admired the high level of motivation and the performance of their Filipino counterparts.

"Bilib ako sa kanila," Johnson, a full-blooded American told reporters in fluent Filipino.

Gebke said that US troops participating in this year’s exercise were able to acquire skills in jungle warfare, which was unique for them since they do not have much many areas in the US to train for this type of guerrilla operation.

"Aside from that, we were able to learn some special skills like in the artillery, our soldiers learned to compute projectile range by hand. The US military is equipped with computers to do this, but when it goes down, it is important that we could do it manually," he said.

Not for a coup

Meanwhile, Philippine Army Cpl. Rey Albano, who is participating in this year’s exercises, said the skills they acquired in the conduct of close-quarter battles would help them a lot in fighting terrorist elements in the urban areas.

"Matagal kami sa bundok at kailangan naming matutunan ang mga ganitong type ng operations, pero hindi dapat gamitin sa kalokohan o anumang gawain na makakasira sa bayan," he said.

Albano denied there was an ongoing recruitment of soldiers from their ranks in reported efforts to bring down the Arroyo administration through a coup d’état.

During yesterday’s training, teams from the US and Philippine armies raided suspected "terrorist lairs."

Upon receiving intelligence reports of the presence of terrorist elements inside an old hospital building, a team of highly trained counterterrorist elements were dispatched to the area.

Armed with M4 and M16 assault rifles, the team, composed of four soldiers, stormed the building in a swift and precise manner, took down the "terrorists" and safely rescued the "hostages" inside. — With James Mananghaya