Over the next two weeks, US Marines and sailors will join Filipino soldiers in the training which was tagged as "Talon Vision and Amphibious Landing Exercise."

The joint exercises by the US and the Philippines military were launched in recent years as US-backed offensives against the al-Qaeda linked groups in the restive Muslim south.

Philippine Marine apokesman Major Melquiades Ordiales said the two forces held an opening ceremony for the exercises in Manila as these are designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness and continue the professional relationship between the United States and Philippine armed forces.

Included in the exercise is the amphibious landing exercise that will be held on the main northern island of Luzon, including at the former US Air Base in Clark.

The US forces have been providing intelligence support and supplying communications to Filipino troops in hunting down for the al-Qaeda lined groups Jemaah Islamiyah and the Abu Sayyaf Group.

The ASG used to be based in the Southern Basilan island until US-backed offensives three years ago that forced them to hide and live at the moutainous nearby island and provinces.

For almost three months, offensive and manhunt operations have been conducted for the arrest of ASG chieftain, Khaddafy Janjalani who is reportedly hiding with two Jemaah Islamiyah militants in Maguindanao.