[Philippine] President Macapagal-Arroyo said Tuesday she was sending her chief legal counsel to the United States to finalize ground rules for Balikatan exercises in Sulu later this year -- even as the commander in chief of the US Pacific Command arrives Wednesday to visit American forces already here.

The proposed exercises, to begin in the second half of the year in the province of Sulu, seek to help the ill-equipped military crush the Abu Sayyaf, the notorious bandit group.

About 1,000 US troops were deployed on Basilan island for Balikatan 02-1, but they were prohibited from joining actual combat patrols.

US forces, however, helped their Filipino counterparts track the Abu Sayyaf, leading to the rescue of American missionary Gracia Burnham and the death of senior rebel leader Abu Sabaya.