Military Contractors in the Philippines: What Will the Effects Be on the ARMM (Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao)?

(Filipino Civilian from the ARMM region posing a selfie with an American Contractor)

 

    After an incident involving a U.S. military contractor in the Maguindanao province of the ARMM region in the Philippines, tensions quickly escalated on social media, especially on Facebook. People from those areas voiced their distrust of the government's decision to use contractors.

 

    What many people don’t know is that prior to the crash, there was an ambush on a Philippine military outpost that was conducting humanitarian work located in Basilan. The contractors' main objectives before the crash were limited to intelligence gathering and reconnaissance for the Philippine military. It is possible—though just a theory—that they were also tasked with hunting down those responsible for the attack on the outpost.

    Certain regions of the Philippines, especially in the southern parts of Mindanao, remain volatile. While violence has been curbed over the past few decades, general distrust of the government still persists, even if officials claim otherwise. Some provinces in these areas feel neglected by the government—almost forgotten. While the Philippine government is now making greater efforts, factors such as the remoteness of these areas, poor infrastructure, and occasional insurgencies make it difficult to deliver resources effectively. It is not uncommon for NGOs and government agencies to request armed escorts for protection.

Comments made by people on META (Rough translation)

 

    Having a reconnaissance and intelligence aircraft flying overhead—especially in ARMM—tends to unsettle people. Many may feel that the government still doesn’t fully trust them. While distrust of "Big Brother" exists in all forms of government, living in a near-warzone on a daily basis changes perspectives. The presence of these “good-bad guys” could, in some ways, help mitigate risks.