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Combat role unclear { February 25 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/25/international/asia/25FILI.htmlhttp://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/25/international/asia/25FILI.html
February 25, 2003
Combat Role for the G.I.'s in Philippines Left Unclear
By SETH MYDANS
BANGKOK, Feb. 24 — The possible combat involvement of American troops in the Philippines, opening a new front in the fight against terrorism, seemed unclear today after conflicting statements by officials of the two nations.
The Philippine foreign secretary, Blas Ople, denied today that American troops would take part in combat operations in his country.
"These reports emanate from junior officials who don't know what they are talking about," he said, referring to reports from Washington last week that a new yearlong training exercise in the southern Philippines would include a combat role for the Americans. He spoke to reporters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, during an annual gathering of leaders of 116 nations professing nonalignment.
Pentagon officials said last week that more than 1,700 American troops, including 350 Special Operations soldiers, would take part in combat operations against the militant Abu Sayyaf group, mainly on the southern island of Jolo.
Senior Pentagon officials have said there is an explicit agreement between President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Philippines and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on what the American troops will be doing. President Arroyo has not commented directly on the deployment but said last year that she believed a combat role for American troops would be legal.
In Washington today, Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said, "As we have stated, the U.S. and Philippine governments have agreed to conduct combined operations in the southern Philippines to disrupt and defeat the Abu Sayyaf group."
"These operations will be led by the armed forces of the Philippines with assistance by U.S. forces," he said. "We are respectful of our agreements with the Philippine government. We have been closely consulting with them about these operations, and will continue to do so."
Reports of the deployments aroused a public outcry in the Philippines and were immediately denied by the government. The denials seemed carefully worded, however.
"I am categorically saying that anything that they say that contradicts the Constitution and the laws will not materialize," said the defense secretary, Angelo Reyes.
The Constitution prohibits the presence of foreign troops or bases unless covered by treaty. The Philippine Supreme Court ruled recently that American troops in the Philippines could shoot only in self-defense.
Asked whether this precluded a combat role for the Americans, the defense secretary said, "That is a matter for lawyers to decide."
Mr. Reyes and Adm. Thomas B. Fargo, commander of the United States Pacific Command, were meeting today in Honolulu. Mr. Reyes is also scheduled to meet with Pentagon officials in Washington.
Mr. Ople said the discussions would involve some "refinements" in the mission but insisted that the Americans "will not be allowed to enter combat." American soldiers have been involved in various training exercises in the southern Philippines for the last year but have not officially been deployed in combat.
The new program began on Sunday with 300 Americans assigned to train Philippine troops in commando tactics, night-vision flying and intelligence operations — much the same role they have played in the past.
The reintroduction of American soldiers is a delicate issue in the Philippines. The United States maintained major bases there until they were forced to close a decade ago amid anti-American nationalism.
The Philippine military has been unable to stamp out the Abu Sayyaf rebel group of separatist Muslims. American officials have said the group may have contacts with terrorists of Al Qaeda through ties with Jemaah Islamiyah, an Indonesian group associated with Al Qaeda.
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