IMAGE OF THE DAY

Bombing in Sulu. A Soldier from the U.S. Joint Special Operation Task Force (JSOTF) assists a Filipino victim of a bomb blast 27 March 2006 in Jolo. At least 9 people died and more than 20 were injured in the attack.

No U.S. personnel were injured. The explosive device was planted on the ground floor of a building along a busy street in downtown Jolo, which is located in the southern part of the country.

Colonel James Linder, Commander of the Joint Special Operations Task Force in the Philippines reacted to the bombing, saying “We deplore the targeting and killing of innocent civilians. With the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we are committed to continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of the Sulu region. We at JSOTF-P stand side by side with the people of the Philippines in the battle against lawlessness and terrorism in this region.”

U.S. forces, consistent with the Mutual Defense Treaty and Visiting Forces Agreement, are in Jolo to advise and assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.

With their AFP counterparts and non-governmental agencies they also provide humanitarian and civic assistance in Sulu. In the recently completed Balikatan 2006 joint military exercise, Philippine and U.S. military forces worked together on a number of civic action projects on the island, including provision of medical, dental, veterinary services to thousands of residents, as well as construction and renovation of schools, wells, and other infrastructure. (PRESS RELEASE)