Sater told Philippine reporters that nearly 900 other U.S. soldiers also would remain in the Philippines in Zamboanga City and Cebu under the Long Term Security Assistance Package program. In fact, Sater admitted that pretty much the only ones leaving the Philippines were the nearly 400 military engineers from the U.S. Naval Construction Task Group who were posted on the rebel-infested southern island of Basilan in April to help construct roads, airstrips and port facilities, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The next major U.S.-Philippine joint exercises will start in October and are tentatively slated to last nine months, extending the U.S. presence in the Philippines through at least June 2003. And Manila and Washington are still working out the final details of a Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) that will allow the U.S. military to leave supplies in the Philippines and to use Philippine bases both in times of peace during military exercises and in times of international tensions or national emergencies.

The MLSA has come under intense scrutiny inside the Philippines, but the executive branch in Manila has decided to "fast track" the accord, leaving little room for congressional input, according to Philippine media. While the agreement will carry a stipulation that no "permanent" U.S. structures are built in the Philippines, it allows for increased U.S. military coordination with Manila.