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CNN Live At Daybreak

More American Troops Arrive in the Philippines

Aired January 21, 2002 - 06:20   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: More U.S. troops arrived in the Philippines over the weekend. Three U.S. cargo planes arrived at an air base yesterday carrying equipment and some American soldiers. They are part of a growing contingent that will help train Filipino soldiers fighting Muslim guerrillas linked to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network.

As CNN's Maria Ressa reports, it's a politically sensitive operation that's already stirring trouble.

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MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Inside this army camp, Filipino troops are helping build the base for a team of about 150 U.S. special forces, backed by 500 more American soldiers in support positions. Another dozen or so arrived this weekend bringing equipment and gear.

It's the single largest deployment of U.S. troops since Afghanistan, here to train, not to fight, what Filipino officials call war games with a live target, the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf.

Notorious for kidnappings and beheadings, the Abu Sayyaf holds three more hostages, American couple Martin and Gracia Burnham and Filipino nurse Deborah Yap (ph). The sole breadwinner of her family, Yap supported her mother and four children before she was kidnapped nine months ago. Recently, the Abu Sayyaf allegedly demanded $20,000 for Yap's release. Her mother says it's a sum the family can't afford to pay.

"I don't know what to do anymore. Sometimes I get desperate enough that I want to kill. If that could end our problems, I would do it."

That felling of hopelessness is shared by many on the remote island of Basilan, the front lines in this war. Here armed men roam freely, a mix of rebels, mercenaries and vigilantes. Walk down the street, you meet former hostages. This nurse held for five months, this priest who now carries an M-16 for protection. If U.S. troops can help, many here say let them come, but it won't be easy.

First, U.S. troops need to win over their Filipino counterparts. When a Filipino serviceman tried to direct this American C-130, the pilot ignored him, causing some resentment among the Filipinos. But in between landings, soldier diplomacy kicked in. The next two planes were directed by American soldiers.

(on camera): Filipino and American soldiers must work together during sensitive political times. There is pressure on the U.S. to continue and win its war on terror. Here, pressure is on the government to make sure the Philippines does not become the next Afghanistan.

Maria Ressa, CNN, Zamboanga City, the Philippines.

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