January 14, 2002, Asian Political News, U.S. military trainers begin to arrive in Philippines,

January 14, 2002, Asian Political News, U.S. military trainers begin to arrive in Philippines, 

MANILA, Jan. 10 Kyodo 

U.S. military experts who will train Philippine soldiers on counterterrorism tactics have started to arrive in the southern Philippine city of Zamboanga, a military spokesman said Thursday. 

Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan said more than 100 U.S. soldiers are due to arrive in the country next month to take part in elaborate counterterrorism exercises with Philippine troops fighting the Abu Sayyaf group that has alleged links with the al-Qaida group of Osama bin Laden. 

''Various teams will come to the Philippines from Guam and Honolulu. They will come and go that's why the numbers are varying,'' Adan told a local radio interview. 

He stressed that the U.S. troops that are expected to visit the country are ''noncombatants.'' 

''They are here to train and advise our troops,'' he said. 

He said the soldiers will initially conduct antiterrorism training in a military camp in Zamboanga. However, he said, they will move to nearby Basilan Province where the Abu Sayyaf rebels are holding an American couple and a Filipina nurse hostage. 

He said the U.S. experts will also bring their own equipment, including vehicles and helicopters. 

The Philippine government is mum on details and the nature of the forthcoming training exercise in a bid to ward off controversy. 

Critics accused the government of blatantly breaking a Philippine constitutional provision that bars U.S. troops from taking part in the offensive against Abu Sayyaf. 

Meantime, the air force said in a statement the United States is due to deliver five more Huey helicopters this month to help the military crush the rebels in the southern Philippines. 

''The helicopters will be ready for flight in two to three days -- ready to join the battle-tested fleet,'' a military statement said. 

Earlier, the U.S. delivered the C-130 B cargo aircraft in November to help the military in the fight against terrorism.