American soldier dies in Sulu

By Ronron
October 28, 2007

An American soldier who is stationed in the southern Philippines to help train Filipino soldiers and conduct humanitarian activities died last Friday, US and Philippine officials said Sunday.

“We can confirm that a US service member of the US Special Operations Task Force died last October 26 in the southern Philippines in a non-combat incident,” US Embassy in Manila spokesman Rebecca Thompson said in a phone interview.

Sulu Police commander Sr. Supt. Ahirun Ajirim said the incident happened in Panamao town, although he could not confirm or deny if the soldier died at sea due to drowning as reported.

Ajirim said he was on his way Sunday afternoon to Panamao to gather details about the incident.

“The circumstances surrounding the death of the serviceman is under investigation,” Thompson said.

Thompson said she is temporarily withholding the identity of the victim and his unit pending notification to his next of kin.

On October 16, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM) announced that there will be a rotation of US military personnel deployed in Mindanao by November.

It is not known if the victim is part of those set to leave the country.

“This normal rotation is necessary due to the temporary nature of the US military presence in the southern Philippines, confirming the fact that the US does not maintain any permanent bases here in the Philippines,” said Maj. Eugenio Batara, Jr., spokesman of the AFP WESTMINCOM.

Batara said he was announcing in advance the rotation so as to prevent undue alarm from the public if ever they notice a “temporary increase in the number of US military aircraft flying in and out of the airports, specifically in Cotabato and Zamboanga cities.”

“This rotation, however, will not affect the overall number of US troops in the Philippines as the rotation will be on one-on-one basis,” Batara assured. Philippine and American authorities have repeatedly refused to disclose the number of US troops in the south, citing unspecified “security reasons.”

Batara encouraged the public to “welcome” the US forces “so that we could avail of the help that our American brothers are extending to us.”

“The United States had been supporting the (AFP) to defeat the terrorist organizations in this part of the country and they had been constantly involved in humanitarian assistance and civic action programs of the government in order to deliver basic services to our less privileged brothers in Mindanao, … Christians and Muslims alike,” Batara said.

Batara reiterated that the US Forces are in the Philippines “at the invitation of the government … to provide advice and assistance” to the AFP.”

In February of this year, an American soldier, identified as US Marine Corporal Timothy Lewis, 20, died also in Sulu due to “cardiac arrest” even as he has yet to participate in this year’s Balikatan exercises.

American forces are not allowed to engage in combat operations in the Philippines. Their presence in the country is sanctioned by the RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty./DMS