ZAMBOANGA CITY: Defense and military officials have shifted their tactical offensive and injected more combat maneuvering army and marine battalions by deploying another two battalions to augment those already hunting down the “enemy of the state” since last week.
The new strategy came out after close door command conference with the top military commanders of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command (WestMincom) based in Zamboanga Peninsula and Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMincom) based in Davao Gulf.
The command conference was spearheaded by Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro; AFP Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon, Jr.; Army Chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino; WestMincom commander Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo; EastMincom commander Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Obaniana and division and task forces commanders.
The additional set up of operation is to “pin down” Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf gunmen and guerrillas, including Asian and listed by US most wanted terrorist Omar Patek and Dulmatin.
Last eeek, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has directed the top defense and military officials to transfer the headquarters of the Philippine Army here to give full supervision to the operating ground troops against the remaining terrorists in Zamboanga Peninsula and Central Mindanao..
The move brings the army to the front lines of looming offensives on Jolo, Sulu, Basilan and nearby areas.
Teodoro, who assumed his post Wednesday, flew to the three areas in Zamboanga Peninsula with Gen. Esp
eron and Tolentino, meeting commanders behind closed doors in a heavily fortified military camp, also to assess last week's clashes and to brace troops for a new battle against Muslim insurgents.
They later flew in Basilan to meet army and marine commanders, including the task force commanders of “Zamboanga,” Thunder” and “Comet”.
The military has accused Abu Sayyaf gunmen of deliberately seeking refuge in MNLF or MILF strongholds to evade pursuing troops. Many rebels from the three groups are also bonded by blood ties and battle-forged friendships.
Authorities have blamed a combined force of MILF and Abu Sayyaf militants for the July 10 attack that killed 14 marines, beheading ten of them.
Also, last Thursday's ambush on army troops, on their way to buy food at a market in Indanan was blamed on Abu Sayyaf and MNLF rebels.
As reinforcement troops pour in three areas in Zamboanga Peninsula, officials say thousands of villagers have fled their homes fearing fresh fighting.
“The new strategy of the higher headquarters to “pin down” the terrorists, in “specified and selected target areas” will somehow solve the decades-old insurgencies in the south,” said another defense official who asked not to be identified.
On Sunday, one C-130 cargo plane of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) loaded with combat troops arrived here to beef up the ground troops in Basilan, Jolo and Sulu.
The new strategy came out after close door command conference with the top military commanders of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command (WestMincom) based in Zamboanga Peninsula and Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMincom) based in Davao Gulf.
The command conference was spearheaded by Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro; AFP Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon, Jr.; Army Chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino; WestMincom commander Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo; EastMincom commander Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Obaniana and division and task forces commanders.
The additional set up of operation is to “pin down” Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf gunmen and guerrillas, including Asian and listed by US most wanted terrorist Omar Patek and Dulmatin.
Last eeek, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has directed the top defense and military officials to transfer the headquarters of the Philippine Army here to give full supervision to the operating ground troops against the remaining terrorists in Zamboanga Peninsula and Central Mindanao..
The move brings the army to the front lines of looming offensives on Jolo, Sulu, Basilan and nearby areas.
Teodoro, who assumed his post Wednesday, flew to the three areas in Zamboanga Peninsula with Gen. Esp
eron and Tolentino, meeting commanders behind closed doors in a heavily fortified military camp, also to assess last week's clashes and to brace troops for a new battle against Muslim insurgents.They later flew in Basilan to meet army and marine commanders, including the task force commanders of “Zamboanga,” Thunder” and “Comet”.
The military has accused Abu Sayyaf gunmen of deliberately seeking refuge in MNLF or MILF strongholds to evade pursuing troops. Many rebels from the three groups are also bonded by blood ties and battle-forged friendships.
Authorities have blamed a combined force of MILF and Abu Sayyaf militants for the July 10 attack that killed 14 marines, beheading ten of them.
Also, last Thursday's ambush on army troops, on their way to buy food at a market in Indanan was blamed on Abu Sayyaf and MNLF rebels.
As reinforcement troops pour in three areas in Zamboanga Peninsula, officials say thousands of villagers have fled their homes fearing fresh fighting.
“The new strategy of the higher headquarters to “pin down” the terrorists, in “specified and selected target areas” will somehow solve the decades-old insurgencies in the south,” said another defense official who asked not to be identified.
On Sunday, one C-130 cargo plane of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) loaded with combat troops arrived here to beef up the ground troops in Basilan, Jolo and Sulu.
PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY