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Philippines
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Bessang Pass remembered

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SOMEBODY asked me whether terrorism in Mindanao or anywhere else in the country would end once the government forces kill the last of the Maute/ Abu Sayyaf terrorists.

Not by a long shot, I said.

In fact, I think terrorism will remain the biggest challenge to President Rodrigo Duterte for the rest of his term.

Because of the war in the Middle East against ISIS-led terrorism, the ISIS has to find other regions in the world where it can extend its areas of conflict. Southeast Asia is the most logical hub they can think of, since there are already terrorists in the Philippines like the Abu Sayyaf Group and the Maute group. Indonesia already has the Jemaah Islamiyah.

These two countries already have ready-made terrorists to assist the ISIS.

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This has been happening, not only now with the siege of Marawi (formerly Dansalan) but for some years now. The Armed Forces of the Philippines has been in a state of denial for so long a time.

Santa Banana, the terrorists are already getting financial and material aid, not only from some narco-politicians in the Philippines but the ISIS in the Middle East! Just note how the Maute and ASG terrorists have been using sophisticated firepower.

Indeed the IS has already considered the Philippines as its hub in this part of the world, with long-wanted terrorist head Isnilon Hapilon as its “emir.”

Sources say that before the siege of Marawi City, there had been plans to attack other cities in Mindanao. This was brought to fore by no less than Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano. Even the President’s home city, Davao, was targeted, and so were other places like Cotabato City and Zamboanga City.

In other words, terrorism in the Philippines can only expand to the Visayas, more particularly in Palawan, Bohol and Cebu, and even into Luzon, particularly in Metro Manila.

This is why I expect that martial law in Mindanao will be extended with the concurrence of Congress. The terrorists have been recruiting young Muslims all over Mindanao. The possession of a gun means power and money so long as poverty exists in among the Muslims.

Some Filipino Muslims, who have gone to the Middle East, are now coming home to help their fellow terrorists. This will fan extremism and radicalism in Mindanao.

* * *

Today is the 72nd anniversary of a heroic battle between the Ilocanos and Igorots in that historic battle of Bessang Pass. No less than 1,400 of them died in an effort to destroy the last stronghold of the retreating Japanese Imperial army lead by Yamashita, otherwise known as the terror of Malaya.

For no less than three months, Filipino guerrillas and Igorots, members of the 121st infantry led by Col. Russel Volkmann, of the USAFIP-NL fought an uphill battle with the Japanese who were then at a stronghold in the Cordilleras, after retreating in Manila, which was soon liberated by the US forces.

Sad to say, no President, except Ferdinand Marcos and Fidel Ramos, honored this day as one of glorious moment in history. Marcos himself was with the 14th Infantry USAFIP-NL. Ramos, for his part constructed a shrine to commemorate the event in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, not far away from Bessang Pass.

I recall this day because my two elder brothers, Lieutenants Desiderio P. Jurado and Guillermo P. Jurado, were in that battle. In fact, it was my brother Desi who led his platoon of Ilocano and Igorot guerrillas as the assault team to win that battle.

My late brother Desi became a justice of the Court of Appeals. His assault team was under Major Conrado Rigo of the 121st Infantry of the USAFIP-NL. In the annals of the AFP, that battle was romantically called Battle Among the Clouds.

My other brother Willie was among the recipient of Purple Heart, having been wounded in that battle.

What saddens me is that despite the victory of Filipinos in that historic battle, the defense department and the AFP have not marked it at all.

We commemorate Araw ng Kagitingan or National Heroes Day, but nobody else remembers that one glorious moment at the Battle of Bessang Pass. Yamashita was hanged three months after that battle for war atrocities.

* * *

The technical assistance provided by the United States to the AFP in its fight against the combined forces of the Maute group and the ASG shows that the US stands with the Philippines in our fight against terrorism.

It’s rather ironic that more than once, President Duterte hurled expletives against Washington, particularly against former US President Barack Obama for interfering in his war against illegal drugs, and even accusing the Duterte administration of violation of human right.

US state secretary Rex Tillerson said that the United States will continue to honor its alliance with the Philippines on shared democratic values, commerce and strong people-to-people ties.

Echoing Tillerson’s statement, US Ambassador Sug Kim said that the United States would continue to assist the Philippines with the knowledge of the government and the armed forces. President Duterte had earlier stated that he was unaware of the American technical assistance in the Marawi siege.

It is with the technical assistance of the Americans that the armed forces are able to find out where the terrorists are holed in or hiding with the use of modern technology like satellite feeds.

* * *

The Duterte administration will face another challenge after stopping the conflict in Marawi. It is said P10 billion has been earmarked for rehabilitation of the city.

How can, I wonder, be the people rehabilitated when they have lost loved ones, their livelihood, their homes? This will require more than a commitment of money.

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