Former Abu hostages, Muslims join pro-US rally in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Muslims and former hostages of the Abu Sayyaf joined a rally of about 1,500 people here yesterday, expressing support for the ongoing RP-US "Balikatan" military exercises.

Waving Philippine and US flags and carrying streamers declaring "we love America," the rallyists also offered prayers for the crew of a US army helicopter that crashed off Negros last Friday.

The rally, led by Zamboanga City Mayor Ma. Clara Lobregat, was the biggest so far in support of the Balikatan exercise involving 660 US troops, including 160 from the special forces, to help the Philippine military crush the Muslim extremist Abu Sayyaf group that has been linked to Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda terror network.

Speakers at a small park outside a Philippine Air Force base used by the US troops sharply criticized opponents of the exercise who have been holding small but almost daily protests in Manila.

"We don’t normally hold rallies. We are holding this rally because we want to show the real sentiment of the people and not to be dictated upon by leftists in Manila," said Lobregat.

The mayor’s son, Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat, also said the people of Mindanao — particularly Zamboanga, Basilan and Sulu — have long awaited solutions to the terrorism wrought by extremist groups like the Abu Sayyaf.

"I hope the people understand this, specially those who oppose the Balikatan," said Jose Mari Bue, who was recently held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf Islamist group. He said people were "desperate" for help.

"We have to condole with our friendly American forces, for they gave their lives not for anyone else, but for Filipinos," he said. "They are here to help us, and let us not be hypocrites to say that we don’t need their help."

Several dozen Muslims joined the rally. Sulu Sultan Esmail Kiram said they were there to support the exercise "to remove terrorism, to remove all the nasty things that they are doing."

Kiram condemned the Abu Sayyaf and terrorism, citing passages from Quran, Islam’s holy book, saying people of different faiths can live together peacefully.

Mayor Lobregat led the crowd in reciting the Christian "Our Father" for the 10 servicemen aboard the US army MH-47E Chinook helicopter that crashed in deep waters off the southern tip of Negros island before dawn Friday.

Other Christian and Muslim religious leaders also offered prayers for the war against terrorism.

"All we want here in Mindanao is peace, for people to be nearer to the government. The Abu Sayyaf problem was victimized a lot of innocent lives, be they civilians or soldiers, Muslims or Christians," said missionary priest Max Rodriguez.

US Brig. Gen. Donald Wurster, who heads the US contingent in the exercise, said the pro-Balikatan rally in Zamboanga City boosted the morale of US troops, who lost 10 comrades-in-arms in the helicopter crash.

"We have perceived that our presence here is appreciated by the local government and the people. I has boosted our morale," Wurster said.

He expressed gratitude for the public support for the US forces in Zamboanga and said the prayers for those who died in the crash "mean a lot to us."

"Although we have lost 10 good men - eight Army and two Air Forces - we will continue with our mission ... working together to help counter terrorism in the Philippines," he said.

Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio, Wurster’s co-director of the exercise, said all 160 US Special Forces are already on nearby Basilan island, where the Abu Sayyaf has been holding American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham and Filipino nurse Ediborah Yap for nearly nine months.

Teodosio said the US soldiers would need three to four days to "settle down and establish their communications equipment" and build rapport with the Filipino troops hunting the Abu Sayyaf "before they could make sorties together."

He said, however, that the US soldiers, who are armed only for self-defense, will not be involved in combat operations.

Wurster said his troops have reported that they were "well-received" by the Filipino troops.

He said US and Philippine officers in Zamboanga were working on "intelligence and communications and networking training" and planning command and control roles.

"So things are moving forward and the reports are all positive," he said. — Roel Pareño