Naval blockade in Sulu

Naval blockade in Sulu

By Marichu Villanueva
The Philippine Star 02/11/2007

Manila---The Philippine armed forces fielded more than 10 warships around Sulu in what could be the single biggest naval blockade meant to trap Abu Sayyaf terrorists in their lair.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said yesterday the naval blockade formed part of the "small unit tactics" designed to eventually wipe out local and foreign terrorists holed out in Sulu, as part of the military’s ongoing offensive dubbed Oplan Ultimatum.

He said the new tactic involves a coordinated land and sea approach to smashing the terrorists.

Believed trapped in the jungles of Sulu, aside from the remnants of the Abu Sayyaf, are Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiyah militants. The two groups are linked to Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda global terror network and are on the US list of international terrorist organizations.

In an interview with The STAR, Esperon disclosed that BRP Rizal leads the Navy vessels in patrolling the Sulu Sea to seal off the terrorists’ potential escape routes. The military’s offensives have been going on since August last year.

Esperon was hesitant to call it a blockade "because the ships are moving around."

But reliable sources said the Philippine Navy was getting assistance from US forces for the blockade.

Given the size of the Navy ships involved, Esperon said, the actual blockade would stretch to only a kilometer – certainly not enough to cover the wide expanse of the Sulu Sea.

But Esperon said the military is gaining headway in its campaign to flush out the militants in Sulu, even drawing praises from the international community, particularly from the US government.

Esperon said President Arroyo has been discussing with him the Sulu operations, particularly the setting of a new deadline. He did not elaborate.

Some 6,000 to 7,000 troops are involved in the Sulu offensive. "I must say that we are adding some more Special Forces to add to the current punch that we have there,’’ Esperon said.

"We have to finish the operations. Knock out the key personalities so that we can better deliver the developmental programs there, which will provide the long-term solution,’’ the AFP chief said.

He also stressed that the USS Blue Ridge, which is in the country for humanitarian mission, is not part of the Sulu Sea patrol. The Blue Ridge is the flagship of the US Seventh Fleet.

"If they (US ships) are there in Sulu, they must be in the international waters. I don’t even know if they are there," Esperon said. The US Navy vessel, which docked at the Manila South Harbor recently, is also scheduled to visit Cebu and Gen.Santos City.

The Sulu offensive has led to the deaths of top terrorist leaders Khadaffy Janjalani and Abu Solaiman.

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