No Philippines combat role for US

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today ruled out a combat role for US troops in the southern Philippines, despite a terrorist bombing in the area that killed 21 people and injured 148.

“We welcome their assistance. They have always said that they will help us in any way we want them to help us,” she said.

“I have always said that as a matter of policy I just draw the line at ground combat where I want our soldiers to do the fighting and not their soldiers.”

Yesterday’s blast outside Davao airport on Mindanao island was the country’s worst terrorist strike in three years.

Among the victims were an American missionary. Officials said they were questioning Muslim guerrillas over the attack.

The bombing came amid debate over the role of US troops in the war on terror in the Philippines, where Muslim insurgents have battled the government for decades with attacks, bombings and kidnappings.

Arroyo’s comments today confirmed her government’s position, but were her first public statement on the issue since US defence officials announced last month they had an agreement to deploy more than 1,000 US troops in an effort to rout Muslim guerrillas from Jolo island.