Ron Post, Public Affairs Director of the US Embassy in Manila, said this was in line with the US State Department's plan to instruct all American embassies to ask their host nations to declare they no longer recognize the regime of Saddam Hussein, a day after the US launched war against Iraq.

"I think this is just a logical move in a situation we're in. This military action has been joined by a coalition of 40 countries now. We have to take the necessary steps in time of war that aims not only to protect the Americans around the world, but the Philippines and other countries as well that are part of this coalition," Post added.

He said the request would be forwarded to the presidential palace and the Department of Foreign Affairs when the US embassy receives official word from the US.

"The decision would still have to be made by your authorities here, by your president and your secretary of foreign affairs after we have made the recommendation," he stressed.

Fears that Iraq's "weapons of mass destruction" would end up with the Abu Sayyaf or the separatist rebels weighed heavily on the government decision to join the US-led "coalition of the willing," President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Thursday.

Philippine police chief Hermogenes Ebdane also asserted Thursday that the arrest of 11 Iraqis and other "Middle Eastern foreigners" is part of the government's campaign to prevent pro-Iraqi groups from attacking American interests in the country.

Foreign Affair Secretary Blas Ople said Thursday that the Philippines will also allow the US side to use its military bases and ports as part of Manila's contribution to efforts to disarm Iraq of its alleged weapons of mass destruction.

(Xinhua News Agency March 21, 2003)