U.S.-Philippines joint ops postponed

Protests have been growing from groups opposed to the U.S. military presence

By Rufi Vigilar in Manila

MANILA, Philippines (CNN) - Joint military operations between Philippine and American troops due to begin this week have been postponed as the Philippine government scrambles to finalize guidelines for the exercises.

The absence of guidelines for the exercises targeting the militant Abu Sayyaf group was revealed only last week during a Senate inquiry into the constitutional basis for the presence of some 660 U.S. troops in the country.

The exercises were to formally begin Wednesday, as protest groups continued to question the legality and extent of U.S. military participation in the exercises.

However, National Security Adviser Roilo Golez denied that any outside pressure had caused the delay, saying that the "terms of reference of the exercises have yet to be finalized."

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He said the guidelines had already been sent to the U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii for approval.

The U.S. embassy spokesman in Manila, Karen Kelley, declined to comment on whether the delay was a bilateral decision.

But Press Secretary Noel Cabrera told CNN that Philippine military officials "thought the guidelines could be improved."

Senator Rodolfo Biazon, a former Armed Forces chief, told CNN "the absence of exercise plans was simply because the exercises are not what they are bruited [rumored] to be."

'Vague'

He said that military officials had until now not clearly defined "the command relationship between Philippine and U.S. commanders" and "the level of response of U.S. troops during the exercises."

"Everything is vague because everything has been verbal so far. Nothing has been put down in writing," Biazon said.

The exercises are unprecedented due to the number of participating U.S. troops, their length of stay, the use of live ammunition, the use of live targets, and the entry of non-Philippine troops in combat zones.

Philippine soldiers have spent months battling the Abu Sayyaf but with little success

Biazon said he would call for a closed-door executive session in the Senate to investigate the plans for the exercises, as soon as these are finalized.

Secretary Golez said that the "minor delay" does not depart from the six-month timeline for the exercises, adding that these would likely push through in "mid-February."

The military exercises are being held in the Philippines as part of the U.S.-led global war against terrorism, particularly against the Abu Sayyaf.

The group, which has been linked to Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist network, has been involved in the kidnap of scores of civilians, beheading at least a dozen of them including American tourist Guillermo Sobero.

Two Americans and a Filipino hostage remain in Abu Sayyaf hands having been held hostage for some eight months.

Expanding the war

Although the Abu Sayyaf's links to al-Qaeda remain vague, the presence of hundreds of American troops in the Philippines have raised suggestions that the U.S. is taking its global anti-terrorist campaign from Afghanistan to Southeast Asia.

Protest groups contend the military exercises may lead to the setting up of virtual U.S. military bases in the country and signal renewed American intervention in Philippine affairs.

The Public Interest Law Center (PILC) and militant groups like Bayan (New Patriotic Alliance) are preparing to petition the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order on the exercises.

The Philippine Constitution states that a formal bilateral treaty is needed before foreign troops can be allowed in the country.

More than 600 U.S. troops are expected to take part in the joint operations

In response to critics Philippine Armed Forces chief General Angelo Reyes has invoked the 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) as what he says is the proper treaty justifying the presence of U.S. troops.

However a leading member of the PILC says hat the government was mistaken in invoking the VFA.

"The Philippine government considers the VFA a treaty, but the US Senate does not," Marichu Lambino told CNN.

The petition opposing the U.S. presence was supposed to be filed to the Philippine Supreme Court Monday, but Bayan spokesman Tonyo Cruz told CNN that they were seeking a "broader alliance" that would include Catholic and Muslim leaders.

Some Muslim lawmakers have expressed concerns at the presence of U.S. troops, saying they were not properly consulted, as well as raising fears that the joint operations could hit the region's civilians hard.

For its part the Philippine government says the military exercises have wide public support and the blessing of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.