Japan, Philippines eye troop deployment pact

Japan and the Philippines are considering expanding defense cooperation to speed up deployment of troops to disaster-hit areas, Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said Saturday.

“We shared the view that if we could have advance disaster relief framework, or agreement, which enables our forces to be deployed to the Philippines even faster, that would be more meaningful for the future field operations,” Onodera said in a press briefing after meeting with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.

Onodera made the remark ahead of his visit to areas devastated by super-typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan) on Sunday.

About 1,000 Japanese troops and volunteers are in Leyte province, joining relief operations and providing medical services to typhoon victims.

After his visit, Onodera said Japan will decide if its Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), will withdraw from the Philippines by yearend.

“The decision will be made after I see the affected area tomorrow, but according to the force on the site and according to countries that deployed forces, the necessity or need in the site are changing from emergency relief to reconstruction and recovery phase,” he said.

Onodera, however, noted that Japan’s assistance will continue even after the JSDF leaves.

“It will change and shift to the next stage where the government of Japan [will extend] overall support to the Philippines,” he said. (John Roson)

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100 cops off to Basilan

A hundred more policemen are set to arrive in Basilan in the next few days to help local authorities fight the Abu Sayyaf and other threat groups.

The policemen, all members of the Mimaropa (Mindoro-Marinduque-Romblon-Palawan) Regional Public Safety Battalion, were sent off in a ceremony in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, Thursday morning.

They will be augmenting local police units in Basilan where spate of kidnappings and other lawlessness committed by the Abu Sayyaff and other threat groups are prevalent, Chief Supt. Artemio Hicban, Mimaropa regional police chief said.

“Fear of the unknown and uncertainty is but natural… Be proud that you were chosen for this mission so that when you return, you may tell great stories about your assignment in Mindanao,” Hicban told the contingent during the send-off ceremony. (John Roson)

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More troops sent to Basilan; Army chief checks soldiers’ morale

The Army sent additional troops to Basilan after the clash with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members that left 19 soldiers killed, a military spokesman confirmed Saturday.

Army chief Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz, meanwhile, visited the troops in the island-province to check on their “morale.”

Lieutenant Col. Randolph Cabangbang, Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command spokesman, said some 100 members of the Army Special Forces arrived in Zamboanga City “last week” en route to Basilan.

“Regular deployment ‘yun, galing Manila, sakay ng C-130… ‘yung dumating last week nandun na sa Basilan,” Cabangbang said in a phone interview.

“(There is) no let up against lawless elements even in Basilan,” Army spokesman Maj. Harold Cabunoc said for his part.

Meanwhile, Ortiz flew to Basilan Saturday after arriving from Indonesia. It was his first visit to the province after Col. Ramon Yogyog was installed as commander of Special Operations Task Force Basilan last Saturday, replacing Col. Alexander Macario.

“Bibisita siya (Ortiz) doon to assess the situation, hear the sentiments of the soldiers… to hear feedbacks from the soldiers,” Cabunoc said. (John Roson)

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