US deploys surveillance drone in Mindanao

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga – The US has deployed a Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) drone to Mindanao to augment surveillance operations against terrorists, the US embassy said yesterday.

The embassy said that “compared to current surveillance platforms used in the region, the Gray Eagle has a longer flight duration which will enable a larger area of reconnaissance and surveillance.” “Over the past three years the US has provided the Philippines with assistance valued at over P15 billion, to establish better command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines),” it said.

The embassy said that recent deliveries include a Raven tactical UAS and two Cessna-208B surveillance aircraft, as well as various munitions and weapons to support urgent defense and counterterrorism needs.

“The strong, long-standing military relationship with the Philippines enables the US to respond quickly to the AFP’s needs and to support the AFP’s modernization goals,” it added.

The US military and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have provided surveillance assistance to Filipino forces in the early stage of the siege in Marawi City by the Maute group and a faction of the Abu Sayyaf.

The military said the area of operation in Marawi has been constricted to 20 to 24 hectares in the main battle area where the remaining Maute group continued to occupy mosques with more than 50 hostages.

President Duterte has told the military to spare the mosque and the civilian hostages from air strikes but ensure none of the Maute group leaders and members could slip out.

The National Coast Watch Center (NCWC) yesterday said the US government has donated $50 million worth of building and equipment to boost the government’s capability to securing its borders against the entry of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and terrorism.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officer-in-charge Commodore Joel Garcia, who is also the director of the NCWC, said that they have so far received a total of $50 million from the US, through its Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).

Garcia said that the $50 million was given by the US government over a period of two years to improve the country’s maritime security and law enforcement capability.

The US-DTRA built the NCWC main office located inside the PCG headquarters, two regional coordinating centers in Palawan and Cebu; sub-centers in Antique and Surigao and a training center in Palawan.