Washington, September 11 (QNA) - Philipines Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said that the United States has vowed to help the Philippines in its campaign against terror.
Teodoro said that Gates made the assurance during their meeting in Pentagon, the highlight of his five-day official visit to Washington.
After their meeting, Teodoro said: "The future of the Philippines-US defense cooperation and security alliance looks stronger."
Teodoro, who is seeking the ruling Lakas-Kampi CMD s nomination for president in next year s election, said he and Secretary Gates reached an agreement to bring the RP-US defense engagement and cooperation to a high gear.
The Philippine defense secretary said that the US will help in crushing terrorists undermining the peace and stability in the country.
Teodoro and Gates also acknowledged the clear and present danger posed by the Abu Sayaff Group (ASG)-Jemayah Islamiyah (JI) and MILF rogue elements in Southern Mindanao.
Teodoro emphasized that the Philippine government has significantly weakened the ASG following recent major clashes with the terrorist group in Southern Philippines that resulted in the capture by the military forces of a major ASG training camp.   (QNA)