THE big guns shipped by the Philippine Army to Mindanao have already reached Maguindanao with the purpose of providing firepower support to the military’s counterterrorism operations there by quelling whatever challenge lawless groups may pose to government.
Central Mindanao, including Maguindanao, is home to the breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and its three factions that have allied and pledged their allegiance to the international terrorist group Islamic State (IS), which is behind the infamous siege of Marawi City in Lanao del Sur in 2017.
Who’s the ‘enemy’?
THE region is also home to other local lawless groups and even some units of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) despite their mother organizations’ signing of separate peace agreements with the government.
Just a few weeks back, villagers in Midsayap, North Cotabato, were forced to leave their homes after warring families linked with the MNLF and MILF got entangled in a violent conflict due to a clan war locally known as rido.
The eight Autonomous Truck Mounted Howitzer System (ATMOS) 155mm self-propelled guns and their operators, the 10th Field Artillery “Rolling Thunder” Battalion, are already with the Army’s 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division after arriving at the Makar Port in General Santos in late September.
The ATMOS 155mm self-propelled guns were put under operational control of the Joint Task Force Central to support counterterrorism operations, according to 6th Infantry Division commander Major General Roy Galido.
The howitzers were transported by a Philippine Navy vessel that sailed from Sangley Point, Cavite City, on September 24, 2022, three days after the send-off ceremony by defense and military officials led by Department of National Defense (DND) Officer-in-Charge Jose Faustino Jr. and Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.
Army’s biggest gun
GALIDO said the ATMOS is currently the biggest and probably the most lethal military hardware in the Army’s arsenal.
“With automatic loading and a digital fire control, it can deliver accurate fires to a range of up to 41 kilometers,” he explained.
“An advantage of ATMOS is that it offers high accuracy and ‘shoot and scoot’ operation, yet can operate on the existing road network and bridges found in the country. They can deploy even in rugged terrain, while being able to respond to mission demands more quickly than towed howitzers,” he added.
The batteries of ATMOS were among the latest firepower that the Army acquired in its capability upgrade program under the overall military modernization program where Brawner sought to equip the Army with modern firepower systems, while strengthening and adding up its units.
According to Army spokesman Col. Xerxes Trinidad, the Rolling Thunder battalion, which operates the ATMOS, was activated on June 22 this year.
Brawner is not only rearming the Army and expanding its units, but also perfecting the proficiencies of its units.
A few weeks ago, the Army Artillery Regiment (AAR) held its registration firing and live-fire drills in Negros Occidental for its 3rd Field “Hell Every Shell” Battalion, with the series of drills aimed at sharpening the skills of its gunners.
The activities were taken in connection with AAR’s unit and individual certification program aimed at ensuring that firing units and personnel can perform various artillery gunnery procedures for timely and accurate delivery of artillery fires. The certification program was also made to validate the proficiency of firing unit personnel on their respective duties and responsibilities.
Trinidad said the AAR is implementing a certification program for gunners and assistant gunners prior to their deployment to firing lines. Field artillerymen also undergo recertification before handling actual combat operations.
The regiment is one of the units at the forefront of Army modernization by consistently organizing, training, equipping, developing and sustaining artillery units in providing timely and accurate fire support to maneuver units.
The delivery of the ATMOS to Mindanao will ensure that ground forces will have the necessary firepower support when and where they need it as they operate against lawless groups and fighters allied with the IS. The latter are likewise equipped with modern tactical weapons and heavy firepower, including mortars, sniper rifles and rocket-propelled grenades.
The deployment of the ATMOS in Central Mindanao was made as the Army prepared to destroy the BIFF and the last major groups from the BIFF factions, on which the IS relies heavily for local support.
Army’s Marawi exhibit
IT was also symbolic as the Army has drawn up events and activities to commemorate the heroism and valor of soldiers who died liberating Marawi City from the clutches of the IS.
The commemoration begins October 15, and would last until October 17.
“Philippine Army major units that played crucial roles in liberating Marawi will mount an exhibit depicting their courage and dedication to defeat ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria)-inspired Marawi occupiers from October 15 to October 16, 2022,” Trinidad said.
The IS was originally called and known as ISIS.
“The five-month-long Marawi campaign will also be showcased as one of the greatest heritage of the Army at the Philippine Army Museum. Marawi memorabilia, recovered items and equipment will be put on exhibit at the Philippine Army Officers’ Clubhouse Pavilion. The exhibit will be open to the public,” Trinidad said.
Mobile firepower
EARLIER, Brawner said the lessons learned from the Marawi battle partly prodded the Army to go for heavy firepower buildup.
Instead of howitzers and other big guns, he said, the military primarily used track and wheeled armors during the battle because there were not enough types of such weapons.
The military has called the ATMOS a “game changer” asset, which Faustino earlier said could be handy for both territorial defense and internal security operations.
“These assets are considered game-changers as they will certainly bolster the Armed Forces of the Philippines’s internal security operations for a decisive victory against enemies of the state,” Faustino declared.
Image credits: 6th Infantry Division, Philippine Army