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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