Philippines bars U.S. combat role

The Philippine constitution bans foreign troops from going into combat. Story Tools VIDEO A powerful bomb ripped through an airport in the Philippines' second largest city, Davao. PLAY VIDEO RELATED • Airport bomb suspects held  • Canberra, Manila sign terror pact  ABU SAYYAF The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) is the most violent of the Islamic separatist groups operating in the southern Philippines. Some ASG leaders have studied or worked in the Middle East and allegedly fought in Afghanistan during the Soviet war. Leadership The group split from the Moro National Liberation Front in the early 1990s under the leadership of Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani. His younger brother, Khadaffy Janjalani, took over as nominal leader of the group after Abdurajak was killed by police in 1998. Activities Engages in kidnappings for ransom, bombings, assassinations, and extortion. Although from time to time it claims that its motivation is to promote an independent Islamic state in western Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, areas in the southern Philippines heavily populated by Muslims, the ASG now appears to use terror mainly for financial profit. Strength Believed to have a few hundred core fighters, but at least 1,000 individuals motivated by the prospect of receiving ransom payments for foreign hostages allegedly joined the group in 2000-2001. External Aid Largely self-financing through ransom and extortion; may receive support from Islamic extremists in the Middle East and South Asia. Source: U.S. State Department

MANILA, Philippines -- Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has ruled out allowing U.S. troops to fight alongside government forces against Muslim rebels in the south of the country.

The decision comes as Washington and Manila re-examine their rules of engagement in the fight against Abu Sayyaf guerillas after plans for joint military exercises were frozen due to controversy over any potential U.S. combat role.

Arroyo's comments, her first since the issue flared up, came after Tuesday's massive bomb blast at the airport in the southern city of Davao that killed 21 people. (Airport blast)

Philippine authorities suspect the Muslim separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) could be behind the blasts although the group has denied any involvement.

Speaking after visiting the scene of the blast Wednesday Arroyo said the Philippines welcomed U.S. assistance in combating militant Islamic groups.

"They have always said that they will help us in any way we want them to help us," she told reporters.

But, she said, "I have drawn the line at non-combat, where I want our soldiers to do the fighting and not their [American] soldiers."

A series of training exercises had been scheduled in the southern Sulu archipelago, an Abu Sayyaf stronghold, involving more than 1,000 U.S. troops as well as Special Forces.

Philippine officials had planned the operation as an "exercise" focused on "increasing our ability to protect ourselves against terrorist threats."

But Washington insisted that U.S. troops would "actively participate" in combat operations stirred up a furore in the Philippines as its constitution bans foreign forces from engaging in such a role, unless allowed by a treaty.

Newspapers, politicians and left wing groups accused the government of violating the constitution and affronting the nation's sovereignty -- a reaction that led to the embarrassing about face from both sides.

In the wake of that backtracking both sides would "consider other options" while working to resolve limiting legal and constitutional issues, Philippine defense secretary Angelo Reyes said

"We're not going to do anything that will violate our constitution and our laws," he said.

U.S. Special Forces are now training Philippine commandos in Zamboanga, about 350 km (220 miles) west of Davao.

More emphasis would now be placed on reshaping the Philippines armed forces' ability to counter terrorism and would involve improving intelligence information, communication and tactical mobility, Reyes said.

In a similar, but much larger, six-month anti-terror training mission last year in Basilan, U.S. forces were based a long way from the front lines.

During those exercises, the Abu Sayyaf were largely banished from the island. However, two factions of the Muslim extremist group fled to Jolo.

Philippine military officials have said they underestimated the number in Abu Sayyaf's rank. They believe there are almost 400 guerillas on Jolo, and less than 100 on Basilan.

Philippine operations against the Abu Sayyaf are continuing.

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