Kenney hails AFP for death of Abu Solaiman

US ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Ann Kenney congratulated the Armed Forces of the Philippines Thursday for the operations that killed Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Solaiman in Mindanao earlier this week. Kenney relayed the congratulations to the AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo where she attended the meeting of the Philippine Defense Reform Executive Steering Committee. "Let me first congratulate the Armed Forces of the Philippines. I have seen the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Jolo and they should make all of us very proud," Kenney said in a statement posted on US embassy website ( manila.usembassy.gov). She said Filipino troops are “tremendous fighting force," adding that “they are doing extraordinary things in capturing some of the world's most deadly terrorists." But she admitted complications in "rewarding" the informants who led the military to Solaiman. "And you asked about the Rewards for Justice - that is the next step, which is a little bit more complicated. We will be working on that with Philippine authorities, and that may take a little longer as we sort out the where, how and what," she said. When asked the same question, AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said the successful operation against the Abu Sayyaf was due to troops' "constant exposure to exercises in Balikatan." "That is what we get from Balikatan – constant training, upgraded skills, and even some of the equipment," he said. On the other hand, Kenney admitted the US "played a role" in the operation against the Abu Sayyaf, saying, "we advise, assist, we share intelligence information, and on a broader scale our troops have been training together to think about how do you capture tough-to-find terrorists in today's world." "Those of you who have been to Jolo know this is really tough terrain. It is mountainous, it is forested. This latest operation, as the General was telling us, was conducted at night in a driving rain storm. These are the kind of things our troops train for, and they are not easy, but they were the result of extraordinary intensive training, preparation, good equipment, good intelligence sharing, and good planning," she said. She added "it is obvious that the efforts going on in Jolo ... are the result of extraordinary training on the part of Philippine troops, and I am very proud that American forces have been here training, learning, sharing ideas, advising and assisting." "But I do want to emphasize that an international terrorist was killed thanks to the talent of Philippine troops," she added. On the other hand, Kenney said the US is "very pleased and proud to continue to be a partner of the Philippine military." She said the Balikatan exercises will go on and will have a very special focus on the humanitarian side. She added the US will continue to play its role as a "supporting partner" in Philippine Defense Reform programs. "Obviously, as an allied nation, a safe Philippines is good for all the Americans who visit, live and work here. We are proud to be a partner, but this is designed for and by Filipinos," she said. Kenney said 2007 will be a "wonderful year" in the Philippines in terms of hosting "terrific summits" and taking a "leadership role in the region." She said 2007 will also be the year in which great strides are made not only in the war on terrorism, but also great strides forward in bringing peace and prosperity to the people of the Philippines. "I will add that this is good for the United States of America.. Not only do our troops benefit from working with the Philippine Armed Forces, but our people benefit. A prosperous, safe Philippines is a great place for my countrymen to visit, a great place to do business. It means more Filipinos who visit the United States and buy our goods – it is good for everyone," she said. But the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) scored the Arroyo administration Thursday for allowing "military interference" by the United States in tracking down leaders of the Abu Sayyaf and local armed groups. In a statement, CPP spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal said the US' intelligence gathering against local armed groups in the country "constitutes foreign military interference that must be condemned and put to a stop." Rosal particularly hit Malacañang and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for citing US involvement in the reported killing of Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Solaiman. He also demanded that "a complete accounting be made of US military presence and operations in Mindanao and elsewhere within Philippine territory in order to check and put a stop to foreign military interference." "Statements by Malacañang and the AFP pompously declaring that that the killing last Tuesday of Jainal Antel Sali, whom the AFP claims to be Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Solaiman, was largely achieved through the intelligence efforts of the US military, confirm the depth of involvement of US military forces in military operations in Sulu and in the internal affairs of the country," he said on the CPP website (philippinerevolution.net). Rosal added the government's stressing that US involvement is limited to "intelligence gathering" is merely "a propaganda ploy to understate and cover-up the direct involvement of foreign troops in combat operations prohibited in the 1987 Philippine constitution." "Intelligence operations are vital aspects of military operations and, moreover, the intelligence operations that US troops are engaged in here are not merely for general or strategic purposes but constitute tactical combat intelligence operations that go hand in hand with actual combat operations," he said. He added such intelligence information allows the US military to virtually control and direct the operations of the AFP, telling the local armed forces when and where to strike. The AFP has thus become only an extension of the US armed forces operating in the country and employed against those considered to be enemies of the US, he said. "Intelligence gathering or spying by such a foreign military force operating in the country constitutes actual military intervention and tramples on Philippine sovereignty. That this is being carried out with official approval constitutes national treachery on the part of the Arroyo regime and its top military officials," said Rosal. Rosal said that in the past US officials have been more forthright in describing the operations of their troops stationed in the country. In 2002, he said then US Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said that US military aid to the Philippines "includes direct support of military operations [against the Abu Sayyaf]." - GMANews.TV