Army chief downplays US pullout in Zambo

From Malaya Business Insight (Oct 10): Army chief downplays US pullout in Zambo

ARMY chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año yesterday sought to downplay the possible departure of US forces from Mindanao where the Americans have been training and providing intelligence assistance to Filipino troops involved in the fight against terrorist groups.

Año made the remarks amid reports that a US C-17 transport plane had landed in Zamboanga City, supposedly to begin picking up equipment of US forces.

Año and AFP Western Mindanao Command spokesman Maj. Filemon Tan could not immediately confirm the pullout of the US equipment.

Tan said reports about the arrival of the US aircraft only came from media. “I have not seen it. There is no report given to us about any movement,” he said.

Last month, President Duterte said he wants US forces to pull out of Mindanao so they won’t be kidnapped or killed by the Abu Sayyaf, which is feared for its kidnapping, beheading and bombing activities.

The US military has about 107 personnel in Mindanao, all based in Zamboanga City, particularly at the headquarters of the Wesmincom which is supervising all military operations in the Zamboanga Peninsula and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The Americans began their counter-terrorism initiative in Mindanao in 2002 and their strength reached a peak of around 1,300 personnel. They even deployed forces in Sulu and Basilan, assisting Filipino troops in going after Abu Sayyaf members.

In the event the Americans indeed leave, Año said this won’t have any effect on the military’s counter-terrorism efforts. Army soldiers are in the forefront in the fight against terrorist elements, including the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu and Basilan.

Año, however, acknowledged the US military’s assistance in pursuing terrorist groups, saying: “Of course, they’ve helped us especially on information sharing, technical support but our AFP and PNP are fully capable (of handling the counter-terrorism efforts).

“It (US pullout) won’t have any effect on our counter-terrorism effort because our organization is already set. We have an anti-terrorism council, we have an anti-terrorism units,” he said.

Año added that the Americans are not providing assistance in the fight against the Maute Group, one of the terrorist groups in Mindanao that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

“In our last operation against the Maute, they (Americans) didn’t have any contribution or participation. So there is no such thing that our counter-terrorism efforts will be affected,” said Año.

The last major military operation against the Maute Group was launched by the Army’s 103rd Brigade in May in Butig town in Lanao del Sur. Military officials claimed that at least 54 members of the group died in the operation.

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