"Let me state this categorically, the United States has no interest in establishing military bases in the Philippines," US Pacific Command special operations chief Brig. Gen. Donald Wurster told residents during a call on local executives at City Hall.
Wurster said that for the limited mission, the US is prepared to take casualties from possible attacks "to achieve the quality objective" of helping the Philippine government crush the Abu Sayyaf.
More than 600 US soldiers are taking part in the six-month military exercise "Balikatan 02-1," which was launched last week. Some 160 members of the US special forces will be involved in field operations in Basilan, accompanying Filipino soldiers on patrol.
The Americans will serve only as observers and advisers in the operations to hunt down the bandits holding hostage American missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham and Filipina nurse Deborah Yap.
Wurster acknowledged US soldiers could be killed if the joint patrols come under fire.
"No question about it, American soldiers could be there where they could become injured or killed if the Philippine Army is attacked," he said. "But we are prepared to take that risk."
Wurster, who flew in from Hawaii, arrived at City Hall here amid heavy security. He was met by cheering city government employees, many of them wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the US flag and the words "I Love USA."
Zamboanga City Mayor Ma. Clara Lobregat ordered the playing of the US anthem during the visit.
Wurster allayed fears by militant groups in Manila that Washington was plotting to restore its military bases in the Philippines. Muslim protesters have also submitted a resolution to local officials, opposing the war drills over concerns they could escalate violence and displace villagers already suffering from law and order problems.
US forces left Clark air base in Pampanga and Subic naval base in Zambales after the Senate rejected a new bases treaty in 1992.
"We intend to come here as good citizens and good neighbors. When we leave, I want you to be happy," he told residents while urging the press to give the RP-US military exercises a "fair shake."
Several groups have challenged the basis for the US deployment, the biggest overseas by Washington since the US-led campaign against terror in Afghanistan.
The Supreme Court is set to hear later this month a petition to outlaw the operations, which President Arroyo considers a part of the annual war games between the two allies under the Visiting Forces Agreement forged in 1999.
Wurster said he was tremendously encouraged by the pronouncement of the President in support of the world’s fight against terrorism.
"Rescuing the hostages is the responsibility of the Philippine government, but we will provide them with assistance that will help them in operations," he said. "The security of our troops is of high priority to us, but the mission is to be accomplished in support of our allies."
Wurster noted that the Philippine military has suffered heavy casualties while trying to rescue the last of dozens of captives seized by the Abu Sayyaf in a kidnapping spree that began in May last year.
He told residents here that it was important for the Philippines’ future to immediately end the threat posed by the Abu Sayyaf, which has been linked to the al-Qaeda terror network.
"The world will beat a path to your doorstep for the opportunity to visit here when the conditions are right. Hopefully, we’ll be able to achieve that together," Wurster said.
"We marched to the US Embassy today not only to register the biggest and broadest opposition to the continued US presence, but also to display its growing unpopularity with the people," said Rasti Delizo, head of the coalition’s general secretariat.
Sanlakas president Wilson Fortaleza said the President’s false statements justifying the presence of US troops cannot hide the American military’s real intent, which is to hunt down not only the Abu Sayyaf but all other groups perceived as terrorist organizations.
"This is in pursuit of their aim of re-establishing their hegemony not only in the Asia-Pacific region but in the whole world as well, considering that their economy is in a recession and that globalization economy models start to crumble one by one," Fortaleza said.
PEACE CAMP said the participation of US troops in the operations against the Abu Sayyaf is totally unnecessary.
"It is not only a travesty of our national sovereignty as Filipinos but more of a symptom of the rotten system of governance," Delizo said.
The protesters carried placards showing Mindanao wrapped in the American flag.
Balikatan is really about an invasion of the country, they said.
"While there is a need to end the mischief of the Abu Sayyaf, we doubt that a military solution, much less a foreign invasion, can truly stop terrorism dead in its tracks," Fortaleza said. "As long as governments do not address the twin roots of poverty and injustice against oppressed people of the world, terrorism will perennially sprout." — With Romel Bagares, Mark Francisco