Malacañang Sunday rejected a temporary pullout of the visiting American soldiers in Mindanao amid reports the New People’s Army declared an all-out war against the foreign soldiers.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the US soldiers are “out of harm’s way” since they are not involved in any combat operations against lawless elements in the south.

Remonde added he believes the American soldiers, whose presence in Mindanao are allowed under the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement, can take care of themselves in case of intensified NPA attacks against them.

“I don’t think so,” Remonde said in media briefing aired over government radio, when asked if the Palace will consider a pullout of American soldiers due to the latest security threat.

“I think number one, the American soldiers can take care of themselves. Number two, the American soldiers are here in accordance with the visiting forces agreement. Number three, they’re not involved in combat operations so I think they are out of harm’s way,” he added.

Last weekend, the National Democratic Front announced it will wage all out war against US forces in Mindanao due to their interference on Philippine sovereignty.

The latest rebel announcement came after a recent meeting of Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and US Defense Secretary Robert Gates in the United States on increased defense cooperation. Gates reportedly said the US will continue to involve itself in the “counter-insurgency" campaign in the Philippines.

Remonde, meantime, said the government has not lost hope on the peace talks with the local communist group despite the rebels' unreasonable demands. He said they hope the two parties could iron out their differences and jumpstart the peace negotiations as soon as possible.

Remonde lamented that the communist rebels have demanded the release of so-called peace consultants facing murder charges prior to the resumption of the peace talks.

“We hope despite everything, we can save the peace talks between the government and the communist insurgents,” he said.

Malacañang has defended the stay of the US troops, saying it is part of the defense cooperation between the Philippines and the US against terrorism.