Autonomous Truck Mounted Howitzer System (ATMOS 2000) 155mm self-propelled guns. Image: Philippine Army
The Philippine military has sent eight Autonomous Truck Mounted Howitzer System (ATMOS 2000) 155mm self-propelled guns to Mindanao to support counter-terrorism operations in the southern region.
According to Defense Undersecretary Jose Faustino, Jr., the Israeli-made artillery systems are game-changing assets “that will bolster the military’s territorial defense capabilities as well as internal security operations.”
The military hardware was shipped from Naval Base Heracleo Alano in Luzon’s Cavite province on September 24 and arrived five days later at Makar Port in General Santos City.
“This new capability will be utilized against the terrorist groups who are now on the run because of our relentless focused military operations,” said General Roy Galido, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Central.
The eight ATMOS systems are to be distributed to various army units in Mindanao to address insurgency threats.
Mindanao Islands Brief History
Mindanao Island was the ancient paradise of the descendants of the Homo-Luzonensis, the Subanon or Subanen People. Due to continuous encounter and marriages with different migrants from Maluku, Mindoro, Borneo and other nomads who temporarily settled along the coastal areas, the Subanen tribe was breakdown into different sub-tribes forming the group of Ata, Bagobo, Guiangga, Mamanwa, Magguangan, Mandaya, Banwa-on, Bukidnon, Dulangan, Kalagan, Kulaman, Manobo, Tagabili, Takakaolo, Talandig, and Tiruray or Teduray settling different areas in the Islands of Mindanao.
Mindanao Island was named after the Subanen ruler "Datu Mindanao". Datu Mindanao was married to Bae Malindang and was blessed with several children including brave Datu Magindanao who later ruled the now called Maguindanao Province. Datu Maguindanao was blessed with a son in his first wife then named "Apo" but passed away before reaching the ruling age and was buried on the foot of the highest Mountain in Mindanao now called Mount Apo. Bae Malindang was buried on the foot of the highest mountain in Zamboanga Peninsula now called Mount Malindang.
During the 7th century, mass migration occurred counting the arrival of the Bisaya from the Visayas Islands, Yakan and Tausug from the Island of Borneo and Maranao tribe from Maluku and Manado.
History of Insurgency
Mindanao Island which was named after the earliest Subanen ruler "Datu Mindanao" in the Philippines’ second largest island, has a long history of insurgency. Though Subanen people, the earliest settlers of Mindanao Islands are known to be lowly and peaceful people but the later migrants from the Island of Borneo which composed of the Maranao and Tausug tribes are more belligerent in fighting for independence from the Manila Government,
In 2017, the Islamic City of Marawi faced a five-month-long armed conflict after pro-ISIS militants sieged the northwest-central Mindanao city.
The conflict was triggered when government forces attempted to arrest ISIS leader Isnilon Hapilon, who was later killed in a night-time operation in October of the same year.
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