U.S. offers counter-terror training to Philippines

U.S. officials say counter-terrorism training for the Philippine military is the best way to respond to Muslim separatists

September 15, 2000
Web posted at: 10:13 AM HKT (0213 GMT)

MANILA, Sept 15 (Reuters) -- The United States on Friday offered elite counter-terrorist training to the Philippine military, but urged Manila to keep negotiating for the release of an American and other hostages held by Muslim rebels.

U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen, arriving for talks with President Joseph Estrada and Defense Minister Orlando Mercado, said Washington opposed any military action by the frustrated Philippine government to free hostages -- or any ransom payments.

"I think the longer-term solution would be to have appropriate training in counter-terrorism types of activities, which we are prepared to move forward with," Cohen told reporters traveling with him at the start of an Asia-Pacific trip.

He said in an interview on his aircraft from Washington that the U.S. military would not join any military fight against the guerrillas, but was ready to begin providing training in hostage rescue and other areas if Manila requested help.

Muslim separatists in the southern Philippines continue to hold some 20 hostages, including American convert to Islam Jeffrey Schilling, 24, of Oakland, California, after recently receiving ransom payment to free other hostages.

"They have not specifically requested that (anti-terrorist training) at this point. But we think in the long term that the Philippine military needs to form the kind of special units that would be able to conduct military operations under the right circumstances," Cohen said.

"I would be willing to work with them in that regard," he added, praising warming military ties between the two countries following a chill in the wake of the closing of big U.S. naval and air bases here nearly a decade ago.

Schilling was taken hostage on August 23 on the southern Philippine island of Jolo by a faction of the Abu Sayyaf rebel group. Some Philippine officials have called for quick military action against the guerrillas, who have threatened several times to behead Schilling.

Cohen

Cohen urged that the government give negotiations for Schilling and others a chance to work rather than launching military action.

"We don't support paying ransom. We support the continuation of negotiations as opposed to taking military action," he said.

The U.S. military has elite army and other units trained in hostage rescue and counter-terrorism, and Cohen said that he would formally offer specialised training in that area in the talks at the beginning of his six-nation trip.

"We support President Estrada's efforts to promote a unified, democratic country," the secretary told reporters. "We support his opposition to the groups now who are holding hostages."

The secretary, who will have dinner with Estrada, will also visit Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea and Japan before returning to Washington on September 22.

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