COTABATO CITY, Philippines -- Local officials of Lanao del Sur, including those of the Islamic Cities of Marawi, oppose the planned staging in their communities of the joint RP-US Balikatan military exercises.

Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. and Marawi City Mayor Fahad Salic agreed to join forces and invite civil society groups to join them in rejecting moves to hold the military training anywhere in the province.

Both known supporters of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the two local leaders said they have no other option but to rally behind their constituents who reject the entry of American troops and their Filipino counterparts.

Besides, Adiong and Salic claimed, they were never consulted about the planned holding of the exercise slated next month.

"I join my people in their opposition," said Adiong, who announced a people-initiated indignation rally scheduled at the city plaza where 45 cause-oriented groups are expected to converge February 5.

There will be streamers and placards calling for the rejection of the military exercise, said Salic, whose office approved a permit for the rally.

Some 5,000 residents of Iligan City and nearby Lanao del Norte towns staged their own mass action on the same issue on January 21. They included in their protest what they called the Arroyo government's dilly-dallying on the stalled peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Larry Galman, one of the rally organizers, said the Marawi City legislative council recently passed a resolution condemning the planned holding of the Balikatan exercise.

"We are just waiting for the civil society groups' protest resolution that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan [provincial board] will adopt [it] and plan to have it published in a major national daily," Galman said.

Over the weekend, Lanao del Sur Representative Ali Pangalian Balindong urged the Arroyo administration to heed the call of the Maranao folk for the sake of peace.

"There was no prior consultation and they have not considered the cultural and religious sensitivities of the Muslims," Balindong said.

The controversial Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) entered into by the Philippine and US governments mandates the holding of military exercises, and the sharing of logistics and tactics on anti-terrorism.

The planned inclusion of Lanao as a Balikatan venue this year surprised residents due to the absence of terror suspects in the province.