Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur – The presence of US military forces in Barangay Malatimon, Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur, should not be a cause for concern, according to the Philippine Army, as they are solely focused on retrieval operations following the crash of a surveillance aircraft last Sunday.
Lt. Col. Roden Orbon, spokesperson for the 6th Infantry Division, clarified in an interview with DXMS Radyo Bida that around ten US military personnel are assisting in the recovery of the downed aircraft. He emphasized that the operation requires highly trained personnel with expertise in such situations, which explains the US military’s involvement.
The retrieval mission is being conducted in coordination with the 90th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, along with the Ampatuan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. Orbon assured the public, particularly the residents of Ampatuan, that the presence of foreign military personnel is strictly limited to the recovery efforts and does not pose any security risk.
Backstory and Intelligence Cooperation
The crash occurred amid ongoing intelligence-sharing efforts between the United States and the Philippines, particularly in counterterrorism operations in Mindanao. While Orbon clarified that the 6th Infantry Division is not involved in the coordination of the surveillance and intelligence missions, Philippine and US forces have maintained a longstanding partnership in security and defense cooperation.
Under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), the US has been providing technical support and intelligence assistance to the Philippines, particularly in monitoring insurgent and terrorist activities in conflict-prone areas like Maguindanao. The US military’s presence in retrieval operations highlights the depth of logistical and operational coordination between the two nations.
The surveillance aircraft that crashed was reportedly part of intelligence operations, although military officials have yet to disclose further details regarding its mission. While speculation has arisen regarding the nature of its flight, security experts note that joint intelligence efforts have been critical in countering threats from extremist groups operating in Mindanao.
With the retrieval operations still underway, both the Philippine and US military continue to coordinate closely, ensuring that the aircraft’s remains are secured while maintaining transparency with local authorities and the public.
Authorities are expected to release further details about the aircraft’s mission and the findings of the ongoing investigation into the crash in the coming days.
