U.S. Spy Plane Flies Over Southern Philippines

SPY PLANE: A U.S. Orion military reconnaissance plane flies over Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines on Friday, 09 June 2006, where the United States Navy hospital ship Mercy is on its last leg of medical mission in the restive region, where President Gloria Arroyo and ranking U.S. government and military officials are touring the vessel anchored off Jolo island, a known stronghold of Abu Sayya militants tied to al-Qaeda terror network. (Zamboanga Journal)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 09 Jun) Security was tight in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines where President Gloria Arroyo is to stay overnight Friday after visiting the restive island of Jolo, where the U.S. Navy hospital ship Mercy is holding a series of medical mission, officials said.

Heavily-armed soldiers were spotted manning checkpoints in Zamboanga City where Arroyo would stay to attend to wedding of a close family friend Saturday.

"We have put in place a tight security during the President's arrival," said Supt. Francisco Cristobal, chief of the local police force.

Arroyo will sleep at a mansion inside the tightly guarded Southern Command base, also home to a small contingent of U.S. troops helping the Filipino military fight terrorism.

A U.S. Orion spy plane was also spotted flying over Zamboanga City late Friday afternoon.

In Jolo, Arroyo toured the USNS Mercy anchored off the troubled island and then met with U.S. government and military officials and held a conference with regional and provincial leaders.

Arroyo is to attend the wedding of lawyer Michael dela Cruz, younger brother of an influential priest Crisanto dela Cruz, a staunch support and family friend of the president.