Malacañang on Saturday assured that American troops who will continue to stay in the country as part of the US-Philippines defense cooperation will not bend Philippine rules, particularly in connection with the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

“We will make sure that the American soldiers who will be staying here will not violate our legal agreements, especially in connection with the VFA,” Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said over radio station DZRB.

The VFA between the US and the Philippines, which started in 1999, is a legal guarantee for American troops deployed in the Philippines during military exercises and ship visits.

The VFA became a controversial issue after US Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith was accused of raping Filipina Suzette Nicolas in Subic, Zambales in 2005. Nicolas later on admitted that no rape incident happened, and Smith was flown back to the US after being detained at the US Embassy for three years.

According to Remonde, despite critics’ unsolicited advice for the US not to meddle with the country’s internal affairs, the US troops were a big help to the Philippine military in its counter-insurgency operations, especially against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). Their assistance was mostly in the form of military training and provision of equipment.

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates had earlier decided to keep members of the US military in the country. Gates came for a visit last June to review counter-terrorism issues with his Philippine counterparts.

“This is basically in connection with the common effort and cooperation of the Philippine and the US governments on anti terrorism,” Remonde said.

Earlier reports revealed that aside from helping the country against terrorism, US troops here are also involved in development projects, particularly building of infrastructure, roads and schools, as well as projects concerning healthcare.