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3/1/1989 - “Our Answer to the NPA”; The Philippine Army’s Special Operations Teams by Erik R. Guyot

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT WRITER S CONSENT ERG INSTITUTE OF CURRENTWORLD AFFAIRS Maple Street Leonia NJ 07605 March Our Answer NPA philippine Army S Special Operations Teams Mr Peter Martin Institute Current World Affairs West Wheelock Street Hanover NH 03755 Dear Peter No Vietnams Bataan shouted Army Lieutenant Benny Doniego hammer sickle New People Army This climax communist rally local military commanders mayor Holding Lt Doniego asked anyone audience wanted But instead chorus affirmation three women crowd townsfolk stood laughed nervously nodding their heads assent unwilling stand This pulng dialogue meeting organized Army support among townsfolk Ka_ngay village East Caliguman population And municipality Samal population Bataan province Although those attending professed support government Samal reputation A little years during cease between New People Army NPA government rebels staged peace rally Samal It brilliantly conceived strength kilometers Northwest Manila Over fully armed rebels marched streets Samal cheers several hundred residents local foreign reporters flashed throughout Philippines Today Lt Doniego believes people East Caliguman belong communist party organization another Lt Doniego platoon sized Special Operations Team SOT point Army heralded program popular support Army officers Brig Gen Arturo Enrile Army Ch Staff credit SOT program bringing about Army success Said Enrile The SOTs counter point point strategy CPP Communist Party Philippines During anniversary ceremony Philippine Army March President Corazon Aquino announced Erik Guyot Institute Fellow studying U S security assistance Philippines Thailand Sin1925tlInsfitutofCurrantWorldAffairs theCrane RogersFoundation hasprovidedlong termfellowships enable outstandingyoungadultstoliveoutsidtheUnitedStatesandwriteaboutinternationalareasandissues Endowed bytlmlateCharlesR Crane theImfi mtisalsosupportedby contributions fromliko mindedindividualsand foundations The Central Plain Luzon LINGAYEN GULF PANGASINAN I I TARLAC PAMPP SOUTH CHINA SEA Province Bounda Land metre Land 11300 metres I Special Operations Teams dismantled political infrastructure CPP support communist infested b__aA By measure East Caliguman a__gL7_ throughout Philippines military considers rebel influenced Lt Doniego platoon tough influencing East Caliguman later Samal Most residents neighboring areas Philippine Army occupation calling soldiers Tagalog Japanese reference brutal Japanese occupation forty years The majority people believe their protectors Captain Edgardo Gurrea heads SOT training throughout Philippines Captain Gurrea added locals other their protectors The insurgents basically relatives people Lt Col Arsenio Tecson Commander Infantry Battalion He continued They together basketball together expect NPA A SOT program Samal other towns Bataan province important reasons First SOTs should about anywhere Philippines A previous newsletter ERG described Philippine military campaign BitaK_ dragnet snare which launched earlier Lambat Bitag_is military grand strategy winning SOTs primary tactic getting Second Bataan neighboring provinces Pampanga Bulacan priority armed forces Army Marine battalions saturate three provinces Two Marine battalions pulled Manila Bulacan while Army deployed three battalions Bataan alone This newsletter SOT program based interviews dozen senior Army Marine officers involved SOT program three visit Bataan Like ideas SOT program while higher headquarters about years It concept American foreign military official But should The SOT program developed three junior officers slogging field Mindanao They Captain Alex Cogmon Captain Edgardo 6urrea Major Nestor Radaza None creators SOT program hailed throughout Army latest counter insurgency graduate elite Philippine Military Academy which prides itself holding monopoly military thinking Captain Gurrea example joined Army 1970s after graduating De La Salle Universityin lligan City ffindanao where ROTC program something student activist A modest intense officer 6urrea travels fromone remote Army outpost another setting running SOT trainingcenters Gurrea Bataa month described program genesis In Infantry Division moved Southwestern Mindanao where dealing muslim secessionists NPA territory Northeastern Mindanao Soon became apparent division traditional search destroy tactics employed against muslim rebels simply against NPA The division assistant commander instructed staff intelligence operations civil military relations division could improve tactics The assigned study group composed number branch Cogmon Gurrea Radaza We started studying about communism Mao Marx Lenin Gurrea After analyzing captured CPP documents interviewing division battalion commanders study group concluded their tactics aimed insurgency armed element NPA overlooked party organizational structure legal fronts Gurrea explained We military trained squeeze trigger But fighting NPA component The strengthof enemy their organization conflict organization against another organization The study group proposed creation would political division That political became first SOT training still follows basic principles Currently training SOT primary thrusts First Gurrea trying motivate people fighting Thus training starts instruction nature communism ideals Philippine democracy The second aspect involves reorienting outlook soldiers enemy automatically regard peasants NPA supporters In Gurrea ambushed generally considered people baranay Now soldiers taught villagers forced support shelter NPA ought abused Said Gurrea We talking saying change Max Alvarado cinema villain Fernando Poe tough Philosophically training draws principles Sun Tzu knowledge Philippine history government knowledge enemy nature communism knowledge implementing SOT concept The program three officers originally proposed Infantry Division formalized seven process It follows explicitly Maoist lines which SOT employs NPA style organizing techniques counter organize barangay Most doing China Gurrea We M teachings maintain family community In field battalion three companies generally SOT gnated company which platoon trained SOT platoon second serves strike platoon third remains behind platoon Before entering draws existing intelligence identify local CPP leaders organizers party National Democratic Front NDF supporters Through dialogue sessions meetings vigorous counter propaganda which emphasizes Godless nature Philippine communism NPA atrocities SOT attempts isolate CPP leaders publicly identify Whenever possible practices Mao togethers sleep study residents _E_B_ Once CPP structure neutralized through surrenders arrests SOT mobilizes populace Unarmed Banta_ village watch groups established whose purpose serve intelligence report possible CPP infiltration Locals armed trained members Civ ilian Armed Geographical Units CAFGU order defend their communities against NPA The CAFGU considered essential maintaining government support arpgsince Army luxury leaving behind platoons The final phase economic development outside mandate SOTs Although trial SOT program yielded initial success Infantry Division applied practice piecemeal fashion According Col Rene Dado Army Operations senior officers battalion commanders Infantry Division attitude toward program preferring traditional practice going after armed NPA units Not until early Brig Gen Mariano Adalem assumed command Division SOT program enjoy strong support division commander Adalem pushed SOT program implemented throughout Northeastern Mindanao began talking higher dquarters Manila For added effect briefings Adalem study group prepare detailed report SOTs Finally December Adalem briefed President Aquino program Army headquarters directed units adopt SOT program Adalem promotion Commanding General Philippine Army April cemented support radically different Army operations II Bataan province population relatively prosperous lands fishing along coast illegal logging inland employment available Subic Naval Base adjoining Zambales province The residents towns along coast however share prosperity somewhat unevenly The fertile ground activists Manila organizing decades This patient sustained means party NDF organizers resort excessive violence expand their control military location NPA units Lt Col Tecson whose Infantry Battalion responsible northern Bataan province there armed encounters NPA Tecson added Philippine Constabulary estimates barang Bataan CPP influenced armed NPA regulars province Tecson himself believes probably a_nga influenced perhaps NPA regulars The numbers themselves NPA widespread support I found Col Tecson remarkably candid especially given background former spokesman General Fabian Vet notorious Armed Forces Philippines AFP Chief Staff under President Ferdinand Marcos Col Tecson freely admltted Army already loslng galns SOTs Abucay municipality where first arrived Of Abucay barangay SOTs January being heavily infiltrated CPP orRanlzers In other words CPP organizers SOTs arrived coming Said Tecson Artier always But least reception given NPA residents changed One problem Tecson local officials exist NPA remaining neutral fight between NPA military instead wholeheartedly assisting armed forces Tecson referring mayor Abucay Enteng De La Fuente Some military officials mayor De La Fuente NPA sympathizer because criticized military abuses relative local rebel leader Last June soldiers another Army battalion killed resident wounded three others outlying Abucay The soldiers whose battalion later transferred claimed encounter NPA mayor De La Fuente others claimed civilians But complicated whether mayor De La Fuente favors NPA military As politician probably plays sides He family controlled mayor office years One sweltering weekday afternoon I dropped modest house which barangay distance highway The single concrete running highway twists through theandstops short house The shiny ambulance municipality Abucay population local health clinic mayor front personal Not surprisingly I found mayor doing normally afternoon napping chicken A friend mayor between mayor military stems ideology jueting immensely popular illegal gambling which numbered balls picked container In Abucay certain Boy Perez juing Perez protection provincial Philippine Constabulary commander based nearby capital Balanga Mayor De La Fuente rival jueting Not surprisingly Constabulary provincial commander along When I related story after changing names senior Army officer Manila burst laughing That mayor NPA needs armed group against PC Philippine Constabulary I doubt mayor NPA described later played force rebel surrender Probably Philippine polit icians issues keeping options Leaving mayor house I accosted three dressed surreal figures picked their through scampering chickens children women carrying umbrellas young Are missionary asked pefully No I tried press Tagalog Watchtower hands I buying literature Jehovah Witnesses saying I couldn We parted I rounds through small towns villages jeepney pedicab again again people mistook missionary I later realized swarming types missionaries Mormons Filipinos Americans Jehovah Witnesses Army SOTs NDF organizers No wonder people confused about which The point Army SOTs young cocky energetic Lieutenant Ding Carreon A graduate Philippine Military Academy Lt Carreon young company commander He oversees three SOT platoons including Lt Doniego finished Abucay moving Samal Carreon become something media Last January AFP Chief Staff General Renato De Villa brass inspection SOTs Bataan The Marine Commandant Brig Gen Rodolfo Blazon previously instructed Carreon classmates military academy SOT operations spotted former cadet Blazon pulled Carreon nervous Lieutenant brief brass Army headquarters points reporters looking SOTs toward Bataan short Manila I found dismay hearts minds aspect Carreon handing candies children reported services several papers Less reported however equally important perhaps interesting aspect strong tactics bring rebel surrenderees Carreon leading SOTs Abucay harder previous experience another province When first arrived Carreon people wouldn where a_2Lcaptain village leader house The villagers either silent frustrating soldiers different directions As mayor De La Fuente later people afraid uniformed SOTs first landed people military Worse common tricks Carreon other locals volunteer names rebels Even magic failed Usually during onuJolocals asked write secret names rebels slips paper place already stuffed slips containing names subversives Thus locals write names soldiers slips paper But Carreon place people wouldn paper So I Carreon raided NPA ehouse capturing rebels three pistols importantly CPP documents naming local organizers He those named documents dialogue Army pitched mayor office Carreon known would hunted Thus starting those named netted rebel returnees party members NPA reguiar NDF organizers subversive activists Carreon admitted these rebel returnees lower level personnel When SOT comes CPP NPA leaders But leave their behind I after During Army sponsored peace rally surrender ceremony January Carreon rebels captured treated surrenderees given money rebel returnees Gen Adalem himself But Carreon pointed those allegiance government services promised Carreon doesn consider follow surrenderees The agency responsible whose office I visited Department Social Welfare Development III Mrs Mely Pangilinan cheerful woman thirties heads Department Social Welfare Development DSWD which until recently agency dealing rebel returnees Mrs Pangilinan small staff practically women almost maternal interest material welfare protection their rebel returnees The DSWD helps rebel returnees deploy community providing money necessary helping employment protecting possible harassment military police All returnees entitled there about pesos dollar Many returnees money their businesses fishing fattening In illness returnees etltled pesos medicines kilos monthly should their familyneed Pangilinan stressed returnees whose basic needs provided revolutionary movement depend government continue support until employment Returnees interested greater benefits firearms rewards range pesos homemade shotgun pesos M DSWD quite effective helplng rebels along interesting lines One former rebel bodyguard forthe mayor nearby while another worked national armory Bataan making munitions Upon receiving returnees military authorities Pangilinan staff interview determine their level activity rebel movement Pangilinan other DSWD workers returnees feelin comfortable talking often admit greater activity movement This noted confidence passed litary The result about those considered subversive activists military interrogators reclassified regular members either political organizers armed members There apparent incentive returnee claim higher status since subversives regulars receive level remuneration returning foldof thelaw For Bataan province since February rebels returned political organizers collectors these armed regulars Yet firearms recovered M brought individual bounty pesos As Pangilinan rebel returnees subsequently explained revolutionary movement follows policy individuals leave property collectively belongs movement firearms other materiel As rebels returned under SOT program Pangilinan negotiate Lt Carreon records rebels surrendered These returnees rehabilitated deployed their communities But Pangilinan number rebels surrendered Carreon surprised learn number given separately Carreon Col Tecson Pangllinan upset returnees fallen through cracks She claimed because Department Local Government recently taken primary responsibility returnees there increasing problems returnees receiving treatment services She thought Carreon young immature running SOTs Bataan province We closed interview Mrs Pangilinan promising rebel returnees brought under SOT program bodyguard mayor nearby Two items stood interviews First rebel returnees generally received their material employment assistance As result seemed Mrs Pangiltnan benefactor Who could trusted would intervene protect Second returnees could simply leave rebel movement relatively normal unmolested either NPA military Yet instances military closing option neutrality Following doctrine He against military forcing returnees appear NPA stance Rebel returnees interviewed presence Mrs Pangilinan assistant requested their names Carlos Abucay He alternates between construction about pesos fishing She preparing their first child A bitter Carlos joined revolutionary movement after close relative framed unjustly jailed former mayor He became active after becoming party member As barrio central committee primarily engaged organizing instructing other NPA members He students still believed their ideals She praised equality would under communism noted President Aquino still suffering They thought tactics SOTs transparently gimmicky Carlos thaithe overwhelming majority people barangjLstill supported NPA claim seconded other partisan residents So surrender December Carlos because pressure military family He claimed military mayor would liquidate older brother policeman unless surrendered Th Mrs Pangilinan seemed upset vowed bring mayor De La Fuente Carlos received pesos government kilos sardines medicines The military harass although former comrades NPA twice called discuss surrender They asked reconsider pointing valuable member movement invested training Carlos there retribution since movement understood surrendered because limitations decision protect brother We drove larger municipality Limay located about kilometers coast south See rebel turnee worked bodyguard mayor Raul whoiooked tough character flashed smile formerly NPA carried price before surrendered He turned himself after narrow escape shootout military which abandoned comrades Raul wanted settle spend He reason possible NPA retribution because firearm movement surrendered Much chagrin Mrs Pangilinan assistant Raul other returnees viewed governmeht grant hurry He another returnee spoke difficulties facing rebel returnees claimed three returnees local military seeking revenge I still puzzled mayor would trust Raul bodyguard Raul explained mayor close relative It began place Earlier military source during local elections exchange NPA sUpport mayor given NPA Seven In Limay Jun revolutionary movement years A sharp fellow sporting risen become leader underground Kabataan Makabayan Nationalist Youth entire municipality Limay before surrendering His reasons personal political I surrendered because I wanted because Of government promiseS He President Cory wanted become neutral Iook after family infant With bought fishing Out father every morning Jun happy because together With small family wasalso worried In June local Constabulary tried force accompany checkpoint identify NPA sUspects Jun claimed thata PC pistol saying If checkpoint better Kung hindi maghihintay checkpoint tumakbo Knowing fleeing Suspect Jun efUsed checkpoint saying surrendereeand rights Since PC Army tried similar stunts though helping identify NPA members Jun worried because contact NPA themknow story Back Abucay I still naively looking stories about rebel returnees people surrendered willingly because liked President Cory I category surrenderees Arlo story Arlo simple years tough Orphaned early complete second grade before felds He followed elder brother joining NPA because movement promised subsistence abetter future He seven NPA fighters severai encounters under But after wiped squad Marines barely escaped decided surrender Later however difficult support andthree children working paddy fields pesos rejoined NPA since promised provide family In surrendered again because children without With DSWD fattening which going until typhoon October struck destroying house prospects farmer The DSWD provided family fishes making pesos He problems either military NPA As Things OK Medyo maayos nayon After Arlo invited accompany house friends other rebel returnees It first I returnees unaccompanied someone DSWD We traveled jeepney neighboring Samat where I would attend _p_qpng_the following I followed Arlo through small wooden houses until stopped where perhaps habit introduced friends comrade Erik talked group Arlo relatives friends former NPA members farmers think government It turned house station foreign journalists heading mountains interview NPA leaders Throughout vacious former amazon mentioningsomething about petition bursting laughter I finally figured others meant Petition immigrate U S dream about everyone dless ideology IV Lieutenant Benny Doniego would leading p_ong Pu barangay East Caliguman Samal A veteran AFP worked through ranks become officer Lt Doniego sharp dynamic Lt Carreon probablymore representative majority platoon leaders carrying SOT program Lt Doniego local elementary school their previous Abucay tough really beleaguered The NPA operated small communications center Samat consisting captured AFP radios PR range The rebels would interrupt Army radio traffic taunt soldiers asking Where Give fight The rebels packed communications center before SOT rived Samal As spoke school children loitered nearby Boniego saying might spies NPA He added observed people roaming around asking about observing Doniego although parents their children soldiers slowly winning children their parents To parents I We bapon Japanese soldiers We because paying Doniego proud East Caliguman while gotten people longer called hapon He claimed watchword women drinking This seemed confirmed several residents Doniego noted however there things apart locals behavior could change Like soldiers Donlego hails Marcos Northern Ilocos region which distinctly different dialect He joked locals I Ilocano expect speak fluent Tagalog Soldiers other SOTs overwhelming majority Ilocanos native Ilocano speakers found difficu PPg P_U After speaking Doniego I proceeded house rangay captain Jose Lazarte Lazarte terms military soldier detailed guard house Yet pointed people remembered several years Marines massacred residents civilians When I asked daughters describe people about soldiers first natatakot frightening Lazarte noted residents East Caliguman relatively about families member working Subic Naval Base other Bataan peninsula others skilled carpenters People about refugee enter Vietnamese people Morong located other peninsula Although plight people makes grist AFP propaganda locals believed NDF Vietnamese prefer socialist egalitarianism wealthy regime chose leave The pngypqgng opened local civilian Army notables seated facing audience mayor Samal barangay captain Lazarte Col Tecson others Mayor Enutiano Forbes noted previous years there spate killings military these soldiers different Then Lt Doniego couple young sincere looking enlisted menfrom platoon older officials explained Samal East Caliguman By comparing cotored Philippine hammer sickle pinned young private explained differences between native P hilippine democracy foreign communism Democracy private Makadios God loving while Leninism Christian Proof October supposedly Lenin triumph Christ On Blessed Virgin Mary appeared Fatima Portugal After almost hours talks Philippine democracy session built climax which Lt Doniego asked anyone wanted The nervous laugher ofvolunteers seemed persuade Doniego follow their original trying elicit public denunciations communism Similarly there would attempt magic names subversives The meeting closed soldiers leading audience three cheers democracy sentimental Filipino During meeting I noticed young woman sitting intensely clenched fists closed maintain control Afterwards I asked thoughts She replied I wanted She companions teachers school wanted stand burnt afraid because there might NPA sympathizers audience To language missionaries clear purpose P K png_was conversion communism affirmation communism among believers In short meeting morale boosting session communists Samal outnumbered Doniego As people I hurried catch Rudy Pascual views meeting If anyone likely openly critical SOTs The leader Alliance Magbubukid Bataan militant peasants organization small wizened according military intelligence Samal leading subversives He highly respected locals But Rudy running upcoming barangay elections about jeopardize potential votes saying anything negative about anyone I Rudy night begore house Rudy spoken length about government reform program nothing peasants tenants claimed almost farmers He criticized government record human rights compared previous itary units based Samal IB lnfantry battalion which SOTs belong better Marines One people I spoke Samat Reverend Rustico Estioco methodist minister I representative local leaders their concern social justice supported confused about believe because intentions Cory government During Marcos years Reverend Estioco given support leftist activists their increasing militancy language alienated A thoughtful placed moderate amount credence communist pamphlets handed Doniego SOT More importantly Estioco believed soldiers disciplined They polite humble Although polite humble behavior Army SOTs praise teams still have_a Bataan Two small events seemed telling Lt Doniego boasted before pulo_qp_g_almost people watched The Killing Fields which shown SOT units throughout Philippines would probably greatest impact Bataan Those attended actual number children I asked Doniego rounded audience He Said people would screening communism perhaps taken nearby NPA training Those attended The Killing Fields expecting starring local NPA leader The second incident occurred afternoon I walked along feeder school housing Doniego SOT highway A smaller brother asked Tagalog I Japanese For SOTs still belong occupation V Lt Doniego other SOTs spreading other barang_a Samal Later other municipalities counter organizing about barangay month order clear northern Bataan province It impossible Army higher But marks first military systematically following program chance producing lasting results Painstakingly SO Ts counter organize baragays hopes encircling trapping large NPA units central AFP strategy gradual constriction Even elaborate snare company sized guerrilla units SOT approach promise winning NPA For sides NPA AFP rectified mistakes emphasizing organizing techniques rather firepower How SOT program months ahead depends requirements The first extent duration AFP commitment program And second whether there sufficient coordination between government agencies insure follow after SOTs Within Army enthusiasm SOT program Army Commander Maj Gen Adalem officers Army headquarters least I interviewed program Bureaucratically SOT program situated Army headquarters It fobbed powerless civil relations division which hearts minds programs Instead Army operations center According Brig Gen Enrile Army Chief Staff Army infantry battalions average SOT platoon funds aslde these platoons Lt Carreon confirmed extra funds addltion normal monthly operating expenses company pesos operations pesos intell igende about pesos worth supplies Out field SOT program benefits positioned supporters Under AFP Lambat Bitag campalgn approximately priorityNPA influenced areas including Bataan Bulacan Pampanga targeted intensified operations According senior Army officer about thirds these priority areas under jurlsdiction Army officers These brigade commanders their commanding general Adalem SOTs Shuttling between these other areas Captain Gurrea leads SOT training sessions conlnces field commanders importance SOT operations Gurrea field commander believes firepower technique points steadygrowth NPA proof tactics needed For battalion commanders lmportance SOT program driven command course battalion commanders includes SOT module which majors colonels village This command course wider significance beyond SOT program worthwhile spend A American foreign military official describedthe officers command Army divisions brigades trained competent However officer visited units throughout Philippines claimed battalion level below falls apart He asserted battalion commanders poorly trained fighters their hearts really That beginning change Under Maj Gen Adalem Army instituted command course which battalion commanders spend month learning their Before returns field commander action battalion Over Army battalion commanders already through course Army headquarters beginning command course company commanders Me improvements performance their battalions result Brig Gen Enrile Foreign military officials highly pralsed program For description course about VI However there qualifications Army support SOT program To muster units large operations Army sometimes pulls SOTs before completed their tedious counter organizing Thus gradual SOTs second place traditional large scale sweeps In another Marine Commandant Brig Biazon hadto SOT teams ffetropolitan anila Bulacan province before fully completed their Biazon influential generals AFP reluctantly conceded I disappointed Marine teams rushed Buacan More importantly prime mover behind SOTs Maj Gen Adalem scheduled retire July To large degree amount impetus behind program depend becomes successor Some analysts believe Maj Gen Manuel Cacanando likely become commanding general Army interim period eight months It unclear extent Cacanando continue SOT program Outside Army SOT program blems support other AFP units The Marines about program Marine Commandant Blazon started doing essentially thing Southeastern Mindanao about Cogmon Gurrea Radaza formulated SOT concept But Philippine Constabulary which fields equivalent about companies stationed towns carry police thrilled about program Local Constabulary officials offended notion Army quickly public support eluded In Abucay PC officers young Army couldn expect succeed where PC failed years Moreover behavior PC officers tends undermine whatever public support SOTs generated While Army units usually stationed distance municipal centers temptations PC right thick The Jetingring Abucay prote provincial PC commander example I encountered another example first night trying lodgings Balanga provincial capital I noticed loads PC lounging outside Balanga largest hotel nightclub Upstairs provincial PC commander dozen enjoying His security parked there practically every single night I Balanga Captain Gurrea working Infantry Battalion headquarters about kilometers distant Balanga night Ironically Army officers become involved local affairs through SOT program exposed civilization small temptations After Lt Carreon about SOTs Samal Abucay asked whether I nightclub Balanga other reporters While frictions within military SOT program remain muted differences between military civilian government agencies apparent The effective coordination between government agencies erodes gains SOTs In Abucay example rebel returnees surrendered Lt Carreon SOTs somehow bureaucratic separating Army Department Social Welfare Development Department Local Government On national level Asian Western foreign military officials bemoan absence central effectively coordinates government three efforts deployment SOTs establishment CAFGU Civilian Armed Geographical Units insure secUrity after teams follow government development projects As foreign military official CAFGU central SOT program If program start collapse In respects CAFGU issue encompasses entire spectrum conflict Philippines terror provinces military units control budgetary struggles between AFP Philippine Congress sharper presidency But heart issue money manpower For AFP CAFGU viewed essential territorial force dangerous shortage manpower According Western diplomat during Marcos years Army concluded secret study would approximately battalions defeat NPA Brig Gen Enrile disputed figure He claimed number But added battalions realistic estimate The Army fielding infantry battalions plans battalions raises divisions years But given budget constraints Enrile We would happy could division battalions years CAFGU members sixth regular troops monthly compared pesos Army perennial manpower The Army wants field CAFGU personnel However Philippine Congress perhaps fearing CAFGU might Defense Secretary Fidel Ramos build presidential elections budget CAFGU million pesos about million pesos The Philippine general heads CAFGU program probably stretch amount field He others frustrated Senator Ernesto Maceda powerful Senate Committee National Defense Ramos presidency One making rounds among Army officers Senator Maceda doesn AFP because Ramos elected President The person bring these rivals course President Cory But issues President stayed above Said European lomat I Presidential support money CAFGU This diplomat views hands approach failure presidential leadership Others would politics Officers Blazon Gurrea enthusiastic about SOTs guardedly optimistic about winning because worried about CAFGU The AFP through succession military organizations designated territorial forces protect communities NPA access All these groups Civilian Home Defense Force CHDF turned IIed preying villagers supplement their meager salariemgene abusing civilians But Army officers CAFGU personnel umIlk their predecessors c1lysupervis cadred regular troops officer lsted CFGU company Also unlike their predecessors members chncliiy Army reservists This qualife irect U military TO CAFGU received modest surplus MI carbines hether these hands NPA another matter A AFP officers worried CHDF CAFBU become armories NPA But behavior these military units concerns officers Blazon Gurrea We CAFGU program Blazon If where backstop Point CAFGU Gurrea If VI In August General Richard Stilwell retired Deputy Under Secretary Defense Policy New YorkTimes called intelligence Pentagon quietly visited remote Philippine Army Stilwell conducting unofficial investigation Pentagon Several hundred miles Manila Philippine Army officer Stilwell presented general personal repor condition Philippine military The Philippine officer thwarted pushing changes below later explained I decided someone outside JUSMAG Joint U S Military Advisory Group I thought recommendations would effect coming outside The report formed basis Stilwell questions visited troops field inspected their M after seeing condition their rifles decided against asking shoot targets Philippine officer suggested inquired about medicines brief coldly polite meeting AFP Chief Staff Genemal Fidel Ramos Returning Washington Stilwell testified before Congress Philippine Army could fight The armed forces Philippines capable discharging their appropriate limited overall counter insurgency program Thus began words between Generals Ramos Stilwell The author report Stilwell before Congress praised Philippine Army officer water The report positive consequences It highlighted deficiencies training Philippine officers combat One Stilwell primary recommendations improve training In early Pentagon invited newly appointed commander Philippine Army Major General Mariano Adalem visit U S learn about among other things U S military courses battalion commanders Shortly thereafter Aalem instituted command course battalion commanders backbone Army In itself report anything U S military officials already saying private Rather permitted Philippine officer around layers Philippine military bureaucracy provide influential persons detailed first information What follows excerpts report Not training behind schedule woefully inadequate judged standards ASEAN Association Southeast Asian Nations neighbors Malaysia Singapore In other countries school where taught Here other around Officers cannot accommodated anywhere school teach We business perpetuating mediocrity incompetence training institutions If country training institutions influence study taught NOte AFP whole still service training The AFP training command Air Force general command respect described officer parachute jumping His deputy colonel relieved previous command Army rigade because financial irregularities The police forces country wonderful solving killings taken place All attribute killings NPA Sparrow units consider closed solved The Philippine Constabulary PC supposed police Find personnel fingerprints about investigating crime scene Aside professional competence confronted numerous abuses PC INP Integrated National Police Examples A visit child charity arrested police possible suspect taxicab When brought police station victim emphatically police officers wrong Do think police released fellow Oh Someone worked until finally forked pesos money which would medicines child That another NPA recruit especially child The brother Army officer reported motorcycle stolen PC INP personnel began house asking gasoline money follow leads money informer This about month until mentioned incident brother Army officer A check finally found missing motorcycle along CHPG police compound They milking fellow whatever cigarette coffee money could The Army officer requested LT lieutenant could possibly bring motorcycle He could motorcycle impounded evidence Against No What Army officer finally bring motordycle force Note police military elements Manila commit crimes Brig Gen Rodolfo Blazon military police forces Manila relates January heard radio report armored robbery followed shootout Instinctively knowing military Blazon dispatched officers scene where recovered firearms culprits Blazon staff begin trace serial numbers Where Blazon rolls looks sheepishly ceiling office You I The worked upstairs National Capital Region Defense Command disappeared learned their office mates tracing The human rights issue treated AFP personnel generally hindrance counter insurgency campaign This should instead human rights issue should AFP better efficient means fighting insurgency The soldier perceived deeply respects rights others Thls especially crucial In barrios other remote places where government people soldiers But soldiers behave properly money supposed thelr extra rations CO Commanding Officer other purpose How expect respect rights others their superiors respect their rights As extorting villagers soldier admit And surface could right A Filipino villager because innate sense hospitality always offer stranger entering house This offer based purely manners What soldier field advantage And farmer nothing because soldiers eaten Medical service AFP atrocious Ask soldiers simple blood because trained corpsman facilities Med choppers subject whims caprices commanders And commanders dispatch choppers unless aboard themselves everything avoid getting casualties Note propensity AFP generals comfort helicopter stormy weather resulted active AFP generals perishing helicopter crashes enemy bullets The operations where chance wounded CHDFs Civilian Home Defense Force military group example avoiding casualties We Marine battalions During entire operation landing force commander stayed board LST Landing Ship Transport During entire operation every single member officers enlisted judiciously avoiding being CHDF working already under getting killed wounded The situation reached point where CHDFs shouting Marines their ammunition leave fighting For operation CHDF killed wounded The Marines casualties bitten wasps The Marines tough disciplined That combat ample reason examine ourselves Received Hanover