MANILA, Sept. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Philippine President Gloria Arroyo said Wednesday that the majority of the Filipino people welcome the scheduled state visit of US President George W. Bush to her country.

　　"Our strategic partnership with the United States in fighting terrorism and poverty has the overwhelming support of the majority of our people. The surveys reflect this unequivocally," the presidential palace quote Arroyo as saying in a statement.

　　Arroyo made the remarks in response to reports that massive anti-United States protests will be held to sour the upcoming visit.

　　"President Bush is highly respected and appreciated by Filipinos in our country and in the United States. We have forged a genuinely mutual relationship that transcends the colonial ties of the past," she added.

　　President Bush, according to Arroyo, has been "very sensitive" to the national interest and Constitutional prerogatives of her country in the conduct of joint military training exercises here.

　　Bush's visit is largely seen as a gesture of thanks to Arroyo for her vociferant support in the US-led "war on terror".

　　Leftist groups here announced early this week their plans to launch massive protests against Bush's eight-hour stopover on Oct.18.

　　Militant groups also threatened to march to the presidential palace despite government warnings that it will not allow protestsin sensitive places without a permit. Enditem