Filipinos want U.S. troops to go to combat zone

Sixty-three per cent of Filipinos are satisfied with the help the United States has extended to the Philippine military in fighting the Abu Sayyaf group in the southern Philippines, according to a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) on 1,200 respondents from May 17 to June 3.

Only 17 per cent were dissatisfied, resulting in a 46 per cent net satisfaction rating for the ongoing U.S. anti-terror assistance in the country, the SWS said.

Thirty-one per cent of the middle to upper income groups and 56 per cent of the lower-middle to low-income groups said they were "very satisfied" with the U.S. military aid.

Forty-two per cent from the middle to upper income groups and 66 per cent from the lower-middle to low income groups said they were "somewhat satisfied" with the U.S. assistance extended to the Philippine military.

More than half, or 52 per cent, were in favour of allowing U.S. troops to go to conflict areas other than the "combat zones" of the Abu Sayyaf, the survey said.

Eleven per cent of respondents said they wanted American soldiers to go to conflict areas involving the Abu Sayyaf group and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the southern Philippines.

Six per cent wanted U.S. forces to go to conflict areas with the communist New People's Army in southern, central, and northern Luzon.

About 35 per cent of the respondents said they wanted to allow U.S. servicemen to go to conflict areas where there are the Abu Sayyaf, MILF and NPA.

Eighteen per cent said they wanted to limit U.S. involvement to only combat zones of the Abu Sayyaf. Only 30 per cent said they did not approve of U.S. presence in any conflict area in the country.

Twenty-nine per cent of those who opposed the U.S. military presence in the country came from the middle to upper income groups, 29 per cent from the middle income group and 30 per cent from the low income group.

Of those who wanted U.S. forces to go to conflict areas involving the Abu Sayyaf, the NPA and MILF, 34 per cent came from the upper income group, 36 per cent from the middle income group and 30 per cent from the low income group.

Half the respondents said the benefits of the U.S.-Philippine wargames were adequate, while the other half said otherwise.

The survey also said most Muslims are satisfied with the U.S. assistance to the armed forces of the Philippines. They are also opposed to the presence of U.S. soldiers in any combat zone, the SWS said in a statement.

The survey was conducted a month before the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who announced additional assistance amounting to $55 million, in addition to the $100 million committed by Washington to the Philippine armed forces last year.

The survey was conducted before the military rescued American missionary, Gracia Burnham, after her abduction by the Abu Sayyaf group in Zamboanga del Norte on June 7.

In the first quarter survey, a decisive 75 per cent said they approved of allowing U.S. soldiers to go to combat zones like Basilan, an Abu Sayyaf stronghold. Sixty per cent said the American troops should stay in such places as long as needed.