(Eagle News)– Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana insisted on Wednesday (September 14) that the American troops deployed in Mindanao could not be abducted by Abu Sayyaf.
According to Lorenzana, the US servicemen are always inside the military camps.
“Iyong fears ni Presidente that they (US troops) may be subject to reprisal by Muslims is a little bit … hindi siguro mangyayari dahil nasa kampo lang sila and they don’t go out of the camps,” he said.
“Let us remember that they are combatants, not civilians who are subject to kidnappings by terrorists,” he added.
Originally 600, the number of US soldiers had been decreased to 107 in the area.
The said troops are currently stationed in Camp Navarro in Zamboanga.
Lorenzana said that the US servicemen were responsible in managing their assets in Zamboanga City.
“They have two systems that are providing intelligence to our troops. The other one is the shadow drone system which they use to supply our troops,” he explained.
Duterte on Monday expressed his wish to make US Special Forces leave Mindanao, since they can be targeted by abductions of the Abu Sayyaf. Palace officials on Tuesday clarified that the President’s announcement was not yet an official policy.
