Largest PH Army deployment in recent memory

[Anjo]

ZAMBOANGA CITY—The number of Philippine troops running after the Abu Sayyaf in the southern island province of Sulu is expected to swell to about 9,000 by next week, the Armed Forces said on Thursday, amid taunts by the ruthless kidnap-for-ransom group that it was prepared for a “jihad.”

The deployment is the largest concentration of troops in a single area in recent memory, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said.

It also comes shortly after 15 soldiers were slain by the Abu Sayyaf in fierce clashes this week in Jolo, where the terrorists are holding a number of foreign hostages, including a Dutch birdwatcher seized in 2012 and a Norwegian abducted last year from a beach resort.

The gunmen earlier this year beheaded two Canadian hostages, while an 18-year-old Filipino captive suffered the same fate recently.

President Duterte called on the public on Wednesday night to be vigilant against retaliatory attacks in the wake of intensified military operations.

“You should be on guard since we’re hitting them hard,” Mr. Duterte said in a speech in Davao City. “I expect some…retribution also from them. That’s their reprisal.”

He said the gunmen “do not live by the laws of civilization. They are really evil.”

Padilla said the troop deployment was the biggest in recent memory and was “indicative of government’s resolve to crush the Abu Sayyaf.”

He said the deployment was equivalent to almost two Army divisions, with 8,000 fighting soldiers in place.

Army Chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año said three more infantry battalions consisting of around 1,500 soldiers were on their way to reinforce the troops already in Sulu. They were expected to arrive in the capital Jolo by Saturday.

 

[Nilgiri]

Duterte getting the job done!

 

[ahojunk]

I like Duterte.

He may have a loud mouth who offends many people.

Bottom line: He will do what he says. He is not a typical politician. I believe he will be very good for the Philippines.

 

[Brainsucker]

How big is a Philippine army division? Why they said that 8000 is equivalent to 2 Army Divisions? I thought an army division has 10.000 soldiers

 

[Nilgiri]

How big is a Philippine army division? Why they said that 8000 is equivalent to 2 Army Divisions? I thought an army division has 10.000 soldiers

8,000 is the "fighting" soldiers that are active at any one moment. The actual division strength would be around 10,000 I believe...so two would be 20,000 roughly deployed with about 40% "active" at any moment.

2 active for every 3 reserves is very common for peacetime domestic operations.

 

[Anjo]

I like Duterte.

He may have a loud mouth who offends many people.

Bottom line: He will do what he says. He is not a typical politician. I believe he will be very good for the Philippines.

His off the cuff remarks I could really really do without. But other than that his progressive policies and reforms are what the Philippines needs right now to sustain continued economic growth.

 

[Brainsucker]

8,000 is the "fighting" soldiers that are active at any one moment. The actual division strength would be around 10,000 I believe...so two would be 20,000 roughly deployed with about 40% "active" at any moment.

2 active for every 3 reserves is very common for peacetime domestic operations.

i won't asking if it's 8000 for 1 army division. But this is 8000 = 2 Army Divisions. That mean only 4000 / division. That's why I asked

 

[Nilgiri]

i won't asking if it's 8000 for 1 army division. But this is 8000 = 2 Army Divisions. That mean only 4000 / division. That's why I asked

4000 active in operation per 10,000 total soldiers deployed is common S.O.P like I said before.

They have just mentioned the former rather than latter. You have to remember that many parts of an infantry division are irrelevant/unrequired to begin with in a domestic operation of this nature.