Westmincom: No orders for US troops to pull out

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -- There has been no withdrawal of US troops in this part of the region amid repeated comments by President Rodrigo Duterte that he wants American soldiers out of Mindanao.

Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo dela Cruz, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the Armed Forces of the Philippines has yet to issue any order for the Americans, who are confined to an area in Camp Don Basilio Navarro, to leave.

Duterte said Wednesday that he wants no foreign troops in the Philippines within the next two years.

“They (US troops) are in their quarters. If there is [a] withdrawal, that will be announced immediately by the higher headquarters. We are just hosts to them, the decision is up to policymakers in the higher headquarters,” Dela Cruz said.

Dela Cruz also confirmed that some US soldiers left the Philippines early this month as part of their regular rotation.

He said a contingent from the US Marines left and was replaced by US Army personnel.

“That is why when they left, they also brought with them their equipment,” Dela Cruz said of the pullout of US military equipment on Oct. 4.

Dela Cruz said that there are around 110 US military personnel at the camp who coordinate with their Filipino counterparts at Westmincom.

“Actually, ang pinaggagamitan lamang natin sa kanila ay may fundraising for humanitarian (projects), assistance to wounded soldiers and, most of the time, they are just inside camp,” Dela Cruz said.

“In the absence of decision from the higher headquarters, it’s business as usual,” Dela Cruz said.

The US military regularly rotated troops through Mindanao from 2002 to 2012 under the US Special Operation Task Force-Philippines.

They were invited back by the Philippine government to advise and assist the AFP against the Abu Sayyaf Group.

Dela Cruz said in September that US troops are in Westmincom to observe and to make recommendations.

Earlier this week, US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel said the US respects the sovereignty of the Philippines and is committed to its partnership with the country.

"In fact, US training, capacity building, equipment, these are all crucial to protecting the autonomy and promoting the self-reliance of the Republic of the Philippines."