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DE RUEHML #1940/01 2260853
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 130853Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1605
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 001940 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2018 
TAGS: MARR MAS MCAP PGOV PREL PTER RP
SUBJECT: ARMED FORCES CHIEF DISCUSSES MINDANAO CLASHES, 
PEACE PROCESS WITH AMBASSADOR 
 
REF: A. MANILA 1929 (PHILIPPINE MILITARY IN CONTROL IN 
        CENTRAL MINDANAO) 
     ¶B. MANILA 1922 (PHILIPPINE FORCES SEEK TO ENFORCE 
        RULE OF LAW) 
     ¶C. MANILA 1875 (PHILIPPINE FORCES PREPARED BUT 
        RESTRAINED IN FACE OF VIOLENCE) 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C)  SUMMARY:  Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Alexander 
Yano told the Ambassador August 13 that Philippine military 
forces had largely expelled rogue Muslim insurgent units from 
villages they had occupied in central Mindanao, and forecast 
that thousands of displaced villagers would soon be returning 
to their homes as major military operations wound down.  Yano 
praised the performance of Philippine military units in the 
fighting, and stressed that the armed forces had achieved two 
key goals: forcing a quick resolution to the illegal 
occupations, while not widening the conflict with the Moro 
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).  Yano suggested the recent 
clashes might actually have aided the peace process by 
underscoring to Muslim leaders that they could not achieve 
their goals on the battlefield, thus reinforcing the 
importance of a negotiated settlement.  He voiced 
appreciation for U.S. military forces keeping a low profile 
in central Mindanao in recent days, to avoid being drawn into 
the fray, and voiced confidence that he would now be able to 
attend annual high-level bilateral military talks next week 
in Hawaii.  The Ambassador reiterated U.S. support for 
Philippine efforts to craft a durable peace agreement that 
could build a peaceful Mindanao that contributes to a unified 
and prosperous Philippines.  END SUMMARY. 
 
MAJOR MILITARY OPERATIONS OVER 
------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (C)  In a private breakfast with the Ambassador August 13, 
General Yano stated flatly that the Philippine military had 
achieved rapid success in its efforts to quickly expel rogue 
elements of the Muslim-separatist Moro Islamic Liberation 
Front (MILF) from villages they had seized in recent weeks in 
North Cotabato Province in Central Mindanao.  Yano pronounced 
operations in North Cotabato essentially complete, and 
estimated that some 130,000 displaced residents could soon 
return to their villages, following the AFP's dismantling of 
landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) left behind 
by retreating MILF guerrillas. 
 
¶3. (C)  Yano described the Army's initial hesitation, in view 
of sensitive ongoing peace negotiations, to take action 
against rogue elements of the MILF who had earlier seized 
control of a dozen predominantly-Christian villages in North 
Cotabato Province, in central Mindanao.  However, the 
increasingly aggressive stance of the rebels finally forced 
the government to set an August 8 deadline for the MILF's 
withdrawal.  Gen. Yano recounted how, bearing in mind the 
MILF's disjointed organization and communication, he had 
opted to extend the deadline in the field, in order to allow 
the insurgents every possible opportunity to withdraw without 
further violence.  The armed forces chief outlined 
discussions he had held with mayors and the governor of the 
affected area, during which he emphasized the importance of 
not allowing the violence in North Cotabato to broaden into a 
larger conflict between Muslims and Christians.  Yano also 
described meetings with mainstream MILF leaders, who finally 
had to concede that they were unable to control the renegade 
MILF fighters. 
 
¶4. (C)  Turning to the tactical details of the operation, 
Yano described how he had deployed heavy mechanized vehicles 
already in place in Davao in southern Mindanao, mobilized 
troops from both eastern and western Mindanao commands, and 
placed in charge his deputy, Gen. Cardozo Luna.  Yano said 
that from the outset, the AFP's strategy had been to project 
overwhelming force, in order to avoid a protracted engagement 
that would allow the MILF to move in reinforcements, and 
likely entail additional casualties among both civilians and 
the military.  Yano cited the operation's excellent 
logistics, noting how soldiers from Quezon and Samar 
provinces and the Visayas had been airlifted to the 
battlefield in less than a day via Air Force C-130 aircraft. 
Yano expressed pride in the performance of his troops, who 
were already well-acquainted with the battleground, and who 
were carefully apprised of the limited nature of the 
operation and instructed not to pursue MILF forces once 
liberation of the affected villages was complete.  He 
underscored that the MILF rogue command, taken aback by the 
robust firepower the AFP brought to bear, suffered heavy 
casualties. 
 
 
MANILA 00001940  002 OF 002 
 
 
MOVING FORWARD WITH PEACE PROCESS 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C)  Gen. Yano expressed optimism that the peace process 
would move ahead despite the fighting.  He opined that, 
rather than posing a setback, government forces' rapid 
victory over rogue MILF elements might actually help matters, 
in that it reinforced the primacy of peaceful negotiations by 
clearly demonstrating to the MILF that it could not achieve 
its aims on the battlefield.  Yano noted that the AFP's rapid 
success in North Cotabato might even permit his participation 
-- if perhaps a day late -- in upcoming August 18-22 meetings 
of the U.S.-Philippine Mutual Defense Board - Security 
Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) in Hawaii. The Ambassador 
reiterated U.S. support for Philippine efforts to craft a 
durable peace agreement that can create a peaceful Mindanao 
that contributes to a unified and prosperous Philippines. 
 
KNOCKOUT BLOW FOR TERRORISTS 
---------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C)  Turning to continuing joint counterterrorism efforts, 
the armed forces chief expressed his view that the time was 
at hand to "deal a knockout blow" to al-Qaeda-linked Abu 
Sayyaf Group (ASG) and Jema'ah Islamiyah terrorists at large 
in remote areas of Jolo island.  While acknowledging the key 
importance of cooperation with U.S. military advisers on the 
ground, he expressed confidence in his troops' ability to 
carry out such an operation.  The Ambassador welcomed Yano's 
commitment to this key counterterrorism goal and lauded the 
ever-improving capabilities of the Philippine armed forces. 
Yano closed by indicating that he looked forward to 
participating in groundbreaking ceremonies for USG-funded 
improvements to the Jolo City Airport, which he opined will 
further enhance security in the Sulu Archipelago. 
KENNEY