Australian embassy deputy chief of mission Miles Armitage said the Australian government will continue to push for the new security arrangements proposed by Australian Prime Minister John Howard, which will involve the deployment of Australian police patrol ships in Philippine territorial waters and the possible preemptive strikes on suspected terrorist lairs in Mindanao.

“Regional cooperation against terrorism is important for us.  In the Philippines, we have a whole gamut of security and defense cooperation.  These are very extensive and could still be improved,” Armitage said.

Armitage, however, refused to comment on whether the embassy has received specific instructions on how to convince the Philippine government to allow the proposed deployment of Australian police and preemptive strikes in Mindanao.

“I cannot comment on that. The statement of our Prime Minister, John Howard, speaks for itself,” Armitage said.

Howard announced last week his plan to deploy police patrol ships in Southeast Asia that will monitor the movements of suspected terrorists in Southeast Asia.

“This proposal will be well-received.  We have to recognize it is one of those things that will be discussed at an agency level.  I am optimistic on the basis of past experience and the knowledge of the working relationship between agencies that when the implications of it are understood, there will be a very positive view,” Howard said.

Malacañang earlier cited constitutionality issues in allowing Australian police ships to patrol in the Southern Philippines.