House Speaker Jose de Venecia called for the creation of anti-terrorist coalition between East Asian countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

The proposal gained the endorsement of the Malaysian foreign minister, said De Venecia, adding this may open doors for other Asian countries to forge similar agreements in pockets as a show of solidarity to the U.S.' fight against global terrorism.

The proposed agreement called for sharing of intelligence reports on terrorist activities in Southeast Asia, and enabling the three countries to deal cooperatively with terrorist incidents in their areas.

It also called for tighter control on each country's borders and occasional joint peace-keeping operations.

"This could have an immediate practical and symbolic effect for the Philippines which is to isolate the radical Abu Sayyaf group in the south and outflank moves being contemplated by local terrorists," said de Venecia.

Our Manila Bureau Chief adds: Meanwhile, the Philippine House of Representatives ex-pressed support for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's policy to join the U.S.-led anti-terrorism coalition.

"We believe that we have to give our support for the president," said Congressman Ace Barbers.

"If the terrorists were able to do what they did in New York and Washington DC, they can do the same thing to an underdeveloped country like ours," said Congressman Teddyboy Locsin, adding it is but natural for the Philippines to be against international terrorism.

The House of Representatives issued a resolution for support to the country's pro-U.S. stance.

De Venecia downplayed the possibility of U.S.' to re-use the former U.S. Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base in central Luzon, adding that these former war facilities would be used for civilian transit and refuelling.

"The former U.S. bases are seven hours away from Afghanistan," said De Venecia, adding that the U.S.' war facilities in Japan's Okinawa and Diego Garcia atoll are more useful in the Afghanistan campaign.