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U.S. builds up counter-terrorist team in Philippines

Manila schoolchildren participate in a prayer rally in memory of the victims of the September 11 attacks in the U.S.

By Amabelle Layug
CNN Hong Kong

MANILA, Philippines (CNN) -- An additional U.S. military contingent has arrived in the Southern Philippines to help Philippine troops combat militant groups in the country.

The five-man team from the Pacific Command will join more than 20 U.S. military officials who arrived in the southern city of Zamboanga last week to begin training Philippine soldiers.

Zamboanga is about 12 miles north of Basilan Island where the Philippine military has been engaged for several months in an offensive against the Abu Sayyaf -- a group believed by the government to have links to suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden.

Philippine military officials say the U.S. troops will not directly participate in any military action against militants in the country, but will only provide "logistic support."

"We have stated that the American team is what we call an Assessment team," Armed Forces spokesperson Edilberto Adan stressed.

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"Their mission is to study and assess the conduct of our planning of operations against the terrorist groups in Mindanao," he said.

Adan said that the U.S. team would stay in the country for about a week, adding they are currently conferring with Philippine military officials in the field.

Non-combat role

Thereafter, he said, the team would make a report on possible assistance the United States government could provide to the Philippines in its fight against militant groups, particularly the Abu Sayyaf.

"They are not combatants but a study evaluation team. They have no combat equipment. They will definitely not interfere with operations but are here to conduct a study," Adan said.

He said that the assistance provided by the U.S. government was in exchange for the support given by the Philippines in the U.S.-led campaign against terror.

Adan, however, could not confirm how many more troops would arrive, saying that there was no limit on the number of U.S. personnel who could come to the Philippines to provide training.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has given her full support to the U.S.-led war on terrorism and given permission to use the country's airspace and some military air bases.

Jungle warfare

Adan said that the Philippine troops lack the necessary equipment needed to overcome the inherent advantages of the Abu Sayyaf who have used guerilla tactics to hide in the rugged, jungle-covered terrain of the southern Philippines.

He said the military lacked modern helicopters for use in jungle warfare.

Adan also confirmed that an American couple, missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham from Kansas, are still alive.

They were abducted by members of the Abu Sayyaf from a beach resort in Mindanao, along with another American Guillermo Sobero and a group of Filipinos.

The group claimed to have beheaded Sobero in June -- although his corpse was not found until October by Philippine soldiers patrolling on Basilan.