Military

DATE=1/29/2002

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=PHILIPPINES / U-S TROOPS L-ONLY

NUMBER=2-285781

BYLINE=ALISHA RYU

DATELINE=HONG KONG

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Philippine military officials say the official start of joint anti-terrorism military exercises with U-S troops scheduled for Wednesday - has been postponed for a few days. As V-O-A's Alisha Ryu reports, it is not clear what is causing the delay.

TEXT: The joint military exercises dubbed "Balikatan" which means "sharing the burden" in the Tagalog language was to have begun Wednesday with a formal ceremony in the southern city of Zamboanga.

Zamboanga is near the southern Philippine stronghold of the militant Abu Sayyaf group. The United States believes the self-proclaimed Muslim separatist group has ties to the al-Qaida terrorist network.

The under-equipped Philippine military has been battling the Abu Sayyaf for nearly eight months. The group came to international attention several years ago with a series of high-profile kidnappings of foreign tourists. Abu Sayyaf rebels still hold three hostages - including an American missionary couple.

Philippine Army spokesman, Brigadier General Edilberto Adan, says the delay was necessary to give U-S troops time to review details of the exercises with officials at the U-S Pacific Command in Honolulu, Hawaii.

/// ADAN ACT ///

This was reached yesterday in Zamboanga City between our side and the Americans because the Americans have to get the concurrence of their officials in Hawaii. And they are still awaiting that.

/// END ACT ///

The six-month long exercises are unprecedented because of the number of troops involved, the length of stay, the use of live ammunition, and the entry of non-Philippine troops in combat zones.

Mr. Adan denied that the postponement was related to last week's Senate inquiry that questioned the legality of U-S military participation in the exercises.

The Senate debate followed public demonstrations that charged the presence of more than 600 U-S trainers and observers, expected to take part in the exercises, violates the country's constitution. The constitution forbids foreign soldiers from fighting on Philippine soil.

But the Philippine government insists that the American soldiers will only be allowed to shoot in self-defense and will have no operational authority during the exercises.

Philippine military officials insist the delay will not affect the overall timeline for the exercises. Joint training is still expected to begin around mid-February. (Signed)

NEB/HK/AR/JO