U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates (L) talks beside Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro during a press conference at the Camp Aguinaldo Philippine Defense Headquarters in Manila, capital of the Philippines, June 1, 2009. Gates is in Manila to meet Gilbert Teodoro for discussions on strengthening the capabilities of the Philippine forces and the U.S. forces to counter security threats of mutual concern. (Xinhua/Luis Liwanag) Photo Gallery>>>

    MANILA, June 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday renewed the commitment of Obama administration to help Manila fight terrorism and extremism in the Philippines, one of the U.S.'s oldest allies in the region.

    Gates, the first senior U.S. official who visited the Philippines after President Barack Obama took office, made the commitment following a brief one-on-one meeting with his Filipino counterpart, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., at the military's general headquarters in Manila.

    "I told secretary Teodoro that we are partners and we will continue to strongly support their efforts to defeat terrorists and extremists threatening their country and the region," Gates said on a press briefing.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates (L) is welcomed by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro in Manila, capital of the Philippines, June 1, 2009. (Xinhua/Luis Liwanag) Photo Gallery>>>

    A number of U.S. forces are temporarily stationed in southern Philippines, training Filipino troops fight an Al Qaeda-linked local militant group -- the Abu Sayyaf. The U.S. forces are also providing assistance to Filipino troops in terms of intelligence gathering.

    "Together, we will not relent until this threat has been eliminated," said Gates, referring to the 340-member Abu Sayyaf group, included in the Washington's list of foreign terrorist organizations.

    "It is clear that the Philippines is taking on a larger role on the world stage and as it does, this relationship, one of our oldest alliance partnership in Asia, is one that I believe that will endure and deepen in the years to come," Gates said, adding that the U.S.-Philippines relation needs to evolve into a broader, strategic one.

    Gates arrived in Manila on Monday after attending a regional security workshop in Singapore and will fly back to the United States after staying in the Philippines for a few hours.