Press Release
September 15, 2007

US TROOPS IN MINDANAO SHOULD BE USED FOR CIVIC ACTION -- PIMENTEL

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Nene" Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today said American troops in Mindanao should be utilized for civic action, and should under no circumstances be allowed to participate in combat operations against rebels and other lawless elements.

Pimentel said the United States should be invited to join the International Monitoring Team (IMT), that is helping in the observance of the ceasefire agreement between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in conflict areas in Mindanao.

He said if Japan has been allowed to contribute a contingent of peace-keepers to the IMT, there is no reason why the US should not be given a similar role.

"I reiterate my original suggestion that the US could field its troops in Mindanao not for purposes of going to war but for purposes of doing civic action," the senator from Mindanao said.

"This means American soldiers will be involved in constructing roads, bridges, schools, houses, waterworks and the like for the good of our people in Mindanao."

During the first term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Pimentel had suggested that the United States act as peace broker to complement the role of Malaysia in facilitating the peace talks between the government and MILF.

While Washington was amenable to the proposal, Malacañang did not pursue it due to concerns that this may not sit well with Malaysia which has been acting as third-country intermediary in the peace process since 2001.

But lately, Singapore-based security research analyst from Maguindanao, Taharudin Piang Ampatuan, of the Rajaratman School of International Studies in Singapore, has proposed that American troops in Mindanao be utilized as peace-keepers, instead of their current role in training Filipino soldiers in anti-terror activities.

"Indeed, it is a good idea because if the US troops will go to war in Mindanao, that will complicate the situation for our country," he said.

"It's not good for the country if we will allow a foreign power to do our battle for us because it is our obligation to fight our own wars inside our country so that we assert our own sovereignty."

Pimentel noted that as early as 2003, US President George W. Bush had expressed readiness to help in resolving the secessionist conflict in Mindanao by extending diplomatic assistance and offering development aid for the rehabilitation of war-ravaged communities.

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