SCENESETTER FOR GENERAL BRYAN BROWN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 000977 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS USSOCOM FOR GENERAL BROWN FROM AMBASSADOR KENNEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR MASS MOPS MCAP PREL RP SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR GENERAL BRYAN BROWN ¶1. (SBU) General Brown, welcome back to the Philippines! A lot has changed since you visited in 2005. The Armed Forces of the Philippines is demonstrating impressive combat prowess in ongoing operations against Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah terrorists on the island of Jolo. You will have a chance to see some of these improvements yourself on the ground during a day-trip to Jolo where you will meet Brigadier General Rafael (who has been selected for his second star),the Task Force Comet commander, and Lieutenant General Cedo, commander of Western Mindanao Command. An office call with Secretary of National Defense Ebdane will allow you to take the pulse of the new Defense Secretary, who assumed office on February ¶1. Your dinner with Chief of Staff General Esperon, a former commander of the Philippine Special Operations Command, should provide the opportunity for a frank, productive exchange with this soldier's soldier. At all your meetings, we ask that you raise our concerns over unlawful killings, some of which have been attributed to the military and police. We'll have a chance to exchange views over a private dinner at my residence at the start of your visit. INCREASED COMBAT PROWESS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) With U.S. support, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has begun to demonstrate impressive combat prowess in its ongoing anti-terrorism campaign on the southern island of Jolo. AFP troops -- including Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines -- have remained engaged in sustained action against Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah terrorists since August 1, 2006. Successful operations have hammered away at the terrorists and led to the deaths of Khadaffy Janjalani and Abu Solaiman, the top two leaders of the Abu Sayyaf Group ¶3. (SBU) You will have the chance to see for yourself on Jolo the close interaction between Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines and Task Force Comet and the other forces of Western Mindanao Command. U.S. special operators are providing critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support. Combined U.S.-Philippine civic action missions are working to shape the battlefield and peel the terrorists away from the population. U.S. planners are helping the AFP refine efforts to track down the remaining terrorist leadership, including Dulmatin and Umar Patek, the two Jemaah Islamiyah bombers responsible for the 2002 Bali Bombings. Military Information Support Teams (MIST) have played an extremely important role in supporting the Rewards for Justice program by encouraging individuals to step forward with critical information that led to the military operations against Khadaffy Janjalani and Abu Solaiman. A MIST public awareness campaign on the dangers of improvised explosive devices has saved civilian lives and prompted Jolo citizens, including children, to tell the AFP where bombs are hidden. COMMITMENT TO DEFENSE REFORM -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Much of the success on Jolo can be traced to the Philippine Defense Reform Program, which is transforming the Philippine military into a more transparent, accountable, and effective institution. This U.S.-supported effort aims at a complete restructuring of the military establishment ranging from personnel management and logistics to acquisition and training. With the advice of the Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group and a 13-member team of U.S. experts, the AFP and Department of National Defense have already registered significant gains. Improved operational readiness rates for aircraft and vessels, casualty treatment, night helicopter medical evacuations, and tactical field skills on Jolo are directly attributable to U.S. training, advice, and assistance. U.S. Special Force troops are helping jump-start the newly begun Battalion Retraining Program, which will retrain all 72 Army and 12 Marine battalions. URGING ACTION AGAINST UNLAWFUL KILLINGS -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Six soldiers have been charged with involvement in the killing of local leftists, journalists, and others. Opposition groups claim more military involvement; no one has been convicted to date. The killing of civilians by security MANILA 00000977 002 OF 002 forces without corresponding prosecution greatly undermines the rule of law, creating a culture of impunity that itself undermines democracy. We have consistently urged our Filipino counterparts to address the problem squarely, investigate the allegations of Philippine military involvement, and hold any perpetrators accountable. They have taken important steps, such as establishing a presidential commission, a police task force, and a military human rights office, but more could be done. Your trip is an opportunity to reiterate to senior military leaders the need to take decisive action to resolve the issue of unlawful killings, which threatens to tarnish the impressive victories the AFP is winning in the field. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm KENNEY