No Filipino Troops in US-Iraq War: Official

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, February 07, 2003

No Filipino Troops in US-Iraq War: Official

The Philippine government will not send combat troops to the Middle East even as a US-led war against Iraq became "more imminent," National Security Adviser Roilo Golezsaid Thursday.

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The Philippine government will not send combat troops to the Middle East even as a US-led war against Iraq became "more imminent," National Security Adviser Roilo Golezsaid Thursday.

"The sending of combat troops is not being considered at the policy level," Golez said as he sought to clarify an earlier statement by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Dionisio Santiago that the military was prepared and that soldierscould be sent to help the United States in administrative or technical duties.

"What the AFP chief of staff was trying to say was they (the military) would be ready if they would be ordered. And in our view,there will be no order to the AFP," said Golez, who has been appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the crisis manager in the US-Iraq conflict.

He also said it was "highly improbable" that terrorists would attack the Philippines if the United States pursued its war against Iraq, which was accused by Washington of possessing weapons of mass destruction.

Santiago said Wednesday that "the possibility is very strong" that if war breaks out in Iraq, terrorists could attack foreign embassies in Manila and US troops and businesses in the Philippines, a staunch ally of America in the region.

Golez said a cabinet committee will meet Thursday to assess thenew evidence against Iraq presented by US Secretary of State ColinPowell at the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday to justify the use of force on Iraq.

The committee evaluation would be discussed on Friday when President Arroyo convenes the National Security Council, he said.

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