This came as the military girded for more clashes with the Muslim terror group in the two provinces while the Philippine National Police raised the alert levels in Manila and in all major cities to prevent any retaliatory attacks by the Abu Sayyaf.

Filipino military commanders and local officials briefed the group of American congressmen on the security situation in the region where Filipino soldiers are still in pursuit of Muslim extremist gunmen.

Rep. Reyes said: “We are proud of the work being done here and more than that, we know that it’s an important part of the global effort that we need to make in protecting our allies and protecting the vital regions of the world. We are prepared to provide any assistance possible because we think a safe and secured Asian region, certainly the Philippines is part of this, is in the best interests of everyone."

The delegation also expressed sympathy for scores of soldiers who have been killed in recent weeks in an upsurge of fighting with the Abu Sayyaf and their allies on the islands of Jolo and Basilan, just south of Zamboanga City.

New York Rep. Gregory Meeks praised Philippine-US links, saying the visit showed that “we have much more in common that brings us together.”

The President has set a deadline for the military to defeat the Abu Sayyaf terrorists and communist insurgents as the military stepped up its operations in the provinces of Basilan and Sulu, ABS-CBN News reported.

Mrs. Arroyo’s announcement came as Gen. Esperon revealed that he had ordered the military to step up its offensive against Islamic terrorists.

“I have standing orders to hit every confirmed (location). The Abu Sayyaf will be dealt with as fast as we can, as decisively as we can," Esperon told reporters a day after President Arroyo visited frontline troops in Basilan.

The government has massed 17 battalions of Marines and Army infantry on the restive southern Basilan and Jolo islands to hunt down and destroy al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf, blamed for the worst terrorist attacks in the Philippines.

Although Abu Sayyaf bandits only number about 58 in Basilan and about 120 in Jolo, according to Esperon’s estimates, the campaign so far has inflicted some of the worst battlefield defeats on the military in recent years with scores of soldiers killed or wounded.

Mainstream Muslim armed groups in the region including the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which is observing a ceasefire with Manila, and the Moro National Liberation Front, which signed a peace treaty in 1996, have rejected military allegations they were aiding the Islamic militants.

Esperon said the large military presence, estimated at more than 10,000 soldiers, enabled the government to quarantine and enforce a “total gun ban" on the two mainly Muslim provinces.

He said the campaign aims to “put off balance” the Abu Sayyaf so its forces will not be able to launch any terrorist activities, and give way to the second phase of the operations which will focus on development.

The government is sending two Army engineering battalions to Jolo and another battalion to Basilan within the next two weeks to build and repair roads, health centers and schools, he added.

Nearly 24,000 people have fled their homes on both islands to escape the fighting, relief officials said.

“The situation in Basilan remains critical due to ongoing [military] operations against Abu Sayyaf group targets," the government relief agency said.

“We must remember that we are fighting terrorists here. They (Soldiers) are not going to picnics," Esperon said of the situation in Basilan and Sulu. A total of 39 soldiers — 29 of them Marines and 10 from the Army — perished since last month in separate clashes with the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf bandits.

In Basilan, Esperon said it is very difficult to corner the Abu Sayyaf in a specific location that has been verified by intelligence operation.

“While we are having higher than average number of casualties, you must also note that we are hitting up the leaders," Esperon said.

He said that three of the suspects who beheaded 10 of 14 Marine troopers were already neutralized, and one was identified as a leader of the bandit group.

The three were among the 42 bandits killed in the Aug. 18 fierce fighting in Basilan based on a military report. During that battle, 15 Marine troopers were killed while 17 were wounded.

In Sulu, Esperon said the military managed to hit the Abu Sayyaf in three successive days from August 7 to 9, a feat that he said was difficult to achieve.

Three weeks ago, 10 Army soldiers were killed in an ambush staged by the Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu.

He said what should people focus on is the willingness of soldiers to “go for the enemy,” not the high number of casualties incurred in the fight.