Military

DATE=02/18/2002

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-286584

TITLE=PHILIPPINES / U-S TROOPS (L ONLY)

BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB

DATELINE=BASILAN, PHILIPPINES

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-S Special Forces spent their first full day Monday on Basilan Island, where they are to train Philippine troops pursuing guerrillas allegedly linked to the al-Qaida terrorist group. Correspondent Scott Bobb reports from Basilan that a local leader welcomes the Americans, and says some of the rebels may want to surrender.

TEXT: Senior U-S officers Monday met the governor of Basilan province, Wahab Akbar. After the meeting, Governor Wahab told V-O-A his government welcomes the U-S troops and their exercise with Philippine forces, called "Balikatan," or shoulder-to-shoulder.

/// WAHAB ACT ///

I am very happy with the coming of U-S Special Forces. And we had several meetings with the mayors, and they are also happy and supportive of the Balikatan exercises we have in the province.

/// END ACT ///

Governor Wahab said the government has received inquiries from the guerrillas about a possible surrender.

/// 2nd WAHAB ACT ///

Last night, there was a feeler, (that) there are some Abu Sayyaf groups who want to surrender. But, I said, you fight now. We cannot accept, because you are giving conditions and we do not want conditions. If they want to surrender, they will surrender, but without any conditions.

/// END ACT ///

/// OPT ///

The government last year ordered the Philippine army to eliminate the Abu Sayyaf after a highly publicized kidnapping in May of several foreign tourists and more than a dozen Philippine workers from a resort. The guerrillas still hold two American missionaries and a Philippine nurse in the forests of Basilan.

/// END OPT ///

One of the U-S soldiers, Sergeant-Major Jim Brey, says the Green Berets will spend their first days in camp getting to know their Philippine counterparts.

/// BREY ACT ///

We have to sit here for about a week, or so, and just get a feel for what's going on, before we can actually make any observations or recommendations. And, likewise, there's things they can assist us with.

/// END ACT ///

The U-S forces are to equip and train Philippine troops here with high-technology equipment, as they pursue Abu Sayyaf guerrillas, who say they are fighting for a Muslim state. For more than a decade, the guerrillas have terrorized residents with bomb attacks, kidnappings and beheadings.

/// OPT ///

Philippine Army Major Salvador Calanoy says, however, the U-S soldiers are not there to fight the Abu Sayyaf.

/// CALANOY ACT ///

This has no relation with the terrorist organization, because this is training. So, this is simple Balikatan training. This has been done ever since before the Abu Sayyaf existed.

/// END ACT ///

Major Calanoy says the Philippine soldiers also plan to share jungle survival and guerrilla combat skills with their U-S counterparts. (signed)

NEB/HK/SB/KPD/TW