President Arroyo has ordered a swift investigation into the landmine explosion that killed two US servicemen and a Filipino soldier in Sulu province.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony Golez said the President has deplored the "barbaric and shameless" attack on the soldiers engaged in humanitarian efforts in the south.

Golez said the government will not allow the US troops to retaliate against the perpetrators of the roadside bombing and instead allow the local authorities to probe the incident.

“The President mourns together with the families of the fallen soldiers and the President just instructed the PNP and AFP to have a speedy investigation on this matter so they would be able to find out who is behind this heinous crime,” Golez told reporters in the Palace.

“This kind of act is very shameless because these guys are doing humanitarian assistance mission into that area, trying to push for peace in southern Philippines. We deplore this kind of barbaric act,” he added.

Golez said the government will continue to implement the RP-US visiting forces agreement despite the first death of US troops in 2002.

He said there would be “no policy changes” on the presence of American soldiers in the country, adding they will continue to foreign troops for counter-terrorism exercises and other humanitarian missions.

“This is part of the threat of the consequence of their noble profession and the most important thing is to prevent this kind of incident in the future,” Golez said. (Genalyn Kabiling)