No disbandment of US anti-terror unit, AFP exec reiterates

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - The military on Friday reiterated that the US military has not disbanded its anti-terror unit here but only reduced the number of its forces assigned in this southern part of the country.

Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, chief of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the US Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) remains inside the camp of Westmincom to continue to assist and provide support to the local military counterpart.

“What I know is that it (JSOTF-P personnel) was just reduced,” Guerrero said.

Guerrero said JSOTF-P commander Col. Erik Brown has announced that the US united has started the reduction of its personnel but did not say  how many will leave and how many  will stay to continue their tour of duty.

Unofficial information showed tha 600  US servicemen, mostly members of the special forces,  were deployed over a decade since the JSOTF-P unit was established on the invitation of the Philippine government under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) to help assist and train the Filipino troops in the war against terrorism.

The JSOTF-P members are deployed in a six-month tour of duty under a rotational basis.

Meanwhile, Guerrero believes the reduction of the JSOTF-P operation will not affect the enhancement and capability of the Filipino soldiers in the war against terror in the south.

“Over the years we have acquired some capability and skills have been enhanced,” Guerrero said. “So we just have to continue enhancing further the skills of our soldiers and their capability.”

He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization and upgrade is well on its way and equipment have been delivered to the ground for the soldiers.