Philippine troops will hold joint military exercises with their American counterparts in Zamboanga City, just several miles off Basilan island where Abu Sayyaf rebels are holding a kidnapped American missionary couple and a Filipina hostage.

A military Southern Command official, Col Danilo Servando, said military exercise, dubbed 'Balance Piston', will begin by mid-January and involve hundreds of U.S. and Filipino troops. He said at least eight U.S. military trainers had arrived yesterday on board a C130 transport plane from Manila to coordinate with the Southern Command.

The U.S. soldiers, all clad in civilian clothes, also inspected military facilities inside the Southern Command and at the Philippine Navy headquarters here. "Hundreds of U.S. and RP troops will be mobilised in this joint military exercise which begin by mid-January," Servando told reporters.

Most of the exercise will be held inside an army camp in Malagutay district, about 20 kilometres west of Zamboanga City, overlooking Basilan island where guerrillas are holding hostage Martin and Gracia Burnham and a Filipino nurse, Deborah Yap.

Servando said: "The military exercise will involve Special Forces from both countries and this will enhance the inter-operability and skills of the participating soldiers."

He said the exercise is apart of the larger Balikatan 2002 war games which will also start this year. "This exercise will give U.S. and R.P. troops a chance to exchange knowledge on jungle warfare and survival techniques, among others," Servando said. "It will be an exercise involving ground forces only."

President Gloria Arroyo, a staunch supporter of the U.S.-led global war on terrorism, in November received a personal pledge from President George W. Bush that his government would help Manila crush the Abu Sayyaf.