MANILA - Strengthening bilateral relations between the Philippines and the United States were the center of discussions between senior Philippine government officials and visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday.

Clinton's two-day visit came amid a backdrop of persistent violence from Al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf bandit group in the volatile south of the country, where US military advisers are helping to train and equip Filipino soldiers.

"The United States is committed to a strong partnership and alliance with the Philippines," Clinton told a press conference with her Philippine counterpart Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo.

She said the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement, a 1999 treaty governing the deployment of US troops in the Philippines, was "an important expression of our partnership" and Washington remained committed to helping in the fight against Islamic militants.

"I would just reiterate that the US stands ready to assist our friends in the Philippines who are seeking to counter terrorism and radical extremism," she said.

Meeting in Malacañang

In their meeting, held at the Malacañang Palace Thursday afternoon, the two diplomats "noted the progress in the overall relations and affirmed the multi-faceted RP-US partnership which is founded on shared values, especially a commitment to freedom, democracy, and human rights," a statement from the Department of Foreign Affairs stated.

Romulo was joined in the meeting by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Philippine Ambassador to the US Willy Gaa and other Department of Foreign Affairs senior officials, while Clinton's delegation included US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney and other US officials.

First on the agenda was a discussion on the situation in the wake of the successive typhoons that struck the Philippines, and the peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Through poverty alleviation and development programs implemented mostly by the USAID, the United States has been a strong supporter of peace, security and prosperity in Mindanao.

Both sides also acknowledged the strategic importance of RP-US defense and security cooperation to regional peace and security.

During discussions on how to further enhance bilateral relations, Romulo also expressed confidence that the Philippines would be able to reach an agreement soon on a Compact partnership with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the statement said.

In this respect, Clinton said she was hopeful that the MCC will reselect the Philippines as Compact eligible in December in recognition of the work that has been done, the statement said.

The two secretaries reportedly also had a meaningful exchange on regional and global issues of mutual interest, such as relations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), climate change, and nuclear-non-proliferation.

The Philippines' role as Country Coordinator for the ASEAN-US Dialogue relations was highlighted especially in relation to the holding of the first ever ASEAN-US Leaders' Meeting in Singapore set on November 15. Likewise, the Philippines' significant responsibility and leadership of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in May 2010 was recognized.

Protests broken up

On the eve of Clinton's visit, police broke up a protest by 70 left-leaning students in Manila who demanded the pullout of the US military advisers, saying they were an affront to the nation's sovereignty.

However US officials said they believed such sentiments were not shared among the broader Philippine population, and Romulo emphasised that the government was committed to the agreement.

"I think it has worked really well for us," he said at the press conference with Clinton.

A US State Department official said earlier that Clinton wanted to show a "strong commitment" to Manila in its fight against extremists, but it would be up to the new US Pacific Command chief, Admiral Robert Willard, to study strategies.

Philippine authorities said the Abu Sayyaf's numbers have fallen to 300-400 from about 1,000 eight years ago, when the US Special Forces arrived to begin training the Philippine military.

Analysts say US intelligence and weaponry helped Filipino soldiers capture or kill the main leaders of the Abu Sayyaf early in the mission.

But they said younger, more radical rebels had taken their place, as evidenced by persistent violence in the remote southern Philippine islands where the Abu Sayyaf is based and has support from local Muslim communities.

"There are indications that certain tactics and strategies that have been perfected in Iraq and elsewhere are tried in other theaters and we see some of that playing out in Mindanao and in other parts of the Philippines," the US official said.

Insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan have often resorted to roadside bombs to deadly effect against US and allied troops.

Cheered by an estimated 2,000 students, who waved both the US and Philippines flags, Clinton then visited the Malanday High School in Marikina City, which was badly flooded and received books and other supplies from the US government.

She announced an additional $5.2 million in flood assistance for the Philippines, on top of the $14 million dollars already given.

Order of Sikatuna conferred

In the evening, Clinton was the guest of honor at an official dinner held at the Malacañang.

During her courtesy call and informal one-on-one talks with President Arroyo, Clinton was conferred the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu.

The Order of Sikatuna is the national order of diplomatic merit conferred upon diplomats, officials and nationals of foreign states who have rendered conspicuous services in fostering, developing and strengthening relations between their country and the Philippines.

The dinner, held at a clubhouse outside the main Palace buildings, was attended by around 50 people, mostly government officials and members of Clinton's delegation.

After the dinner, Clinton proceeded to the Sofitel Philippine Plaza, where she was billeted for her overnight stay.

Clinton is the latest and the highest-ranked US official who has visited the Philippines in recent months, following Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) chief Leon Panetta, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. With a report from the Agence France-Presse and RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News