US troops conduct VIP training for Filipino soldiers in Sulu

JOLO, SULU — The US Special Forces have started training Filipino troops in convoy security to equip them with skills in handling possible ambush or road attacks amidst the series of road assassinations and fragile security in the downtown.

The training inside Camp Bonifacio of the 104th Army Brigade route include evacuation and recovery of possible casualty once under enemy fire.

Threats of road attack here intensified following the assassination of a senior police intelligence officer last Friday just outside the police camp.

The military tagged the Abu Sayyaf’s Urban Terrorist Group (UTG) member Itting Sailani as behind the liquidation of police and military, including civilians.

Military officials disclosed that the UTG was trained in bomb demolition and assassination.

Brig. Gen. Nehemias Pajarito, the Army’s 104th Brigade commander, said the training was part of the mission as Filipino troops will be designated to secure the US military who will be conducting the humanitarian mission.

Pajarito said aside from the close-in security, about two battalions of soldiers from the Army and Marines will be deployed to different sites of humanitarian and engineering activities across Sulu.

At least 250 US troops have arrived into this island province’s known to be a hotbed of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf.

The American forces were deployed via US Navy HH-60H Seahawk helicopter directly inside the ground of the military camp to avoid compromising their security.

Lt. Col. James McAllister, ground commander of the Joint Special Operation Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) Sulu mission, reiterated during an appearance of Sultan Sharif Ibrahim Ajibul Pulalon, Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo (now Sabah) that the mission will be focused on humanitarian mission.

"We are deeply honored that the people of Sulu are supporting the mission," McAllister said upon learning that a huge crowd of Muslims led by Pulalon staged a rally supporting their presence and the humanitarian mission.

"We bring in doctors, veterinarians, engineers to increase the humanitarian activities," McAllister said during the courtesy call of Pulalon to Brig. Gen. Alexander Aleo, chief of the anti-terror Task Force Comet, at the headquarters of the 104th Brigade.

Pulalon gave assurances that he will reach communities that are are still doubtful of the mission.