The Philippine government is not likely to accede to a demand by a United States lawmaker to use U.S. troops in the rescue of two Americans and a Filipina being held by Abu Sayyaf rebels in southern Philippines, a top defence official in Manila said yesterday.

Defence Secretary Angelo Reyes said they expect U.S. House of Representatives member, Todd Tiahrt, of Kansas, to bring up the matter concerning the Abu Sayyaf hostages before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Arroyo and Tiahrt met late evening yesterday, but the presidential palace is yet to provide details of that meeting.

"I'm sure the issue of U.S. troop participation in the rescue would be one of the things that would be discussed," Reyes told reporters hours before the meeting took place.

Reyes, however, said Arroyo is not expected to give in the U.S. Congressman's request.

"Right now the policy of the government, as announced by the president, is that we would rather not have combat troops participating against the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan. We feel that our own troops can handle this situation," Reyes explained.

Earlier yesterday, Tiahrt, during a speech in Zamboanga City, some 50 km north of Basilan island where the Abu Sayyaf have held their hostages for more than six months, said he has "high hopes" that a combination of American and Filipino troops will be able to carry out the rescue.