21.   A defense department official said Philippine troops stationed on a nearby reef saw three Malaysian navy ships approach the shoal in recent weeks.

22.   A handful of U.S. soldiers on Thursday scouted areas to train Philippine troops on Basilan island, said Philippine military official, Capt. Charlemagne Batayola.

23.   A U.S. Army helicopter crashed in deep sea early Friday after ferrying American special forces as part of a counterterrorism training exercise for Philippine troops.

24.   A U.S. Army helicopter crashed in deep sea early Friday after ferrying American special forces as part of a counter-terrorism training exercise for Philippine troops.

25.   A young U.S. officer went for a jog on the paved base road, sweating profusely under the morning sun but ignored by nearby civilians and Philippine troops.

26.   After the war ended, he and two other soldiers who remained with him occasionally skirmished with local villagers and Philippine troops.

27.   Also for the first time, U.S. forces will be allowed to join front-line Philippine troops, although they are not allowed to engage guerrillas in combat.

28.   American soldiers first arrived in the southern Philippines in January for a six-month counterterrorism exercise with Philippine troops.

29.   But she said she ruled against such a role for U.S. troops because it made better policy sense to have Philippine troops do their own fighting.

30.   But the unequal handling of criminal jurisdiction under the pact and a companion agreement covering Philippine troops in the United States could potentially stall its ratification.