Islamic City Willing To Host RP-US Anti-Terror Drill

TRADITIONAL LEADER: Above, the Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo, Sharif Ibrahim Ajibul Mohammad Pulalun, and below, Muslim residents of Jolo island rally to welcome US troops. (Zamboanga Journal)

MARAWI CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 25 Mar) The Islamic city of Marawi in Mindanao said it is willing to host any future military exercises between the Philippines and the United States.

"Marawi is very much willing to host any future RP-US Joint Military Exercises should other Muslim areas in Mindanao refuse to hold it," said Mayor Omar Solitario Ali during the recent visit here of senior US officials led by Jon Lindborg, mission director of the United States Agency for International Development; and Dr Steven Rood, of the prestigious Asia Foundation.

"For as long as it will benefit and bring good to our people and community, we will not hesitate to host it," Ali said in a report by the official Philippine Information Agency.

Philippine and US forces recently ended a joint military drill in Jolo island, about 950 km south of Manila, where thousands of mostly poor Muslims benefitted from humanitarian mission under the Balikatan 2006, codename for this year's exercise which means shoulder-to-shoulder.

The Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo, Sharif Ibrahim Ajibul Mohammad Pulalun, led more than a thousand Muslims to rally in Jolo to support the presence of US forces.

Talks are also underway between the Philippines, the US and Japan to allow American troops from Okinawa to hold regular trainings in the country.

The Philippines is a key US ally in the so-called global war on terrorism.