Manila, Philippines ? The U.S. commitment to helping the Philippine military battle terrorists will not end once an American missionary couple kidnapped a year ago are rescued, the Pentagon’s second in command said today.

Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said that rescuing Martin and Gracia Burnham of Wichita, Kan., was a top priority, but that the fight against terrorism in the Philippines was much broader.

Martin and Gracia Burnham

He said the Burnhams being held by the Abu Sayyaf, a group linked to Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida terrorist network are believed to be alive.

“The trail isn’t cold,” Wolfowitz said.

Wolfowitz met with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and other top officials Sunday and today before traveling to the southern island of Basilan where U.S. troops are helping train forces battling the militants holding the Burnhams.

Wolfowitz said the United States was considering giving the Philippine forces more equipment and possibly extending the training which is scheduled to end July 31.

“What we are learning is that equipment without training is almost useless,” he said today. “What we want is a well-equipped, well-trained Philippine armed forces.”

About 1,000 U.S. troops are in the Philippines to provide training and other support.

Green Berets are training Filipino troops in counterterrorism techniques. Other U.S. troops are providing transportation, engineering and additional support functions.

Wolfowitz told reporters on Sunday that Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld is considering whether to allow American forces to accompany Filipino troops on patrols in their fight against Abu Sayyaf.

That kind of help has been controversial because the Filipino constitution prohibits foreign forces from engaging in combat within the Philippines.

Part of his mission, Wolfowitz said, was to gather information to help Rumsfeld make that decision.

The American operation could be extended beyond July 31, when it is currently scheduled to end, Wolfowitz said. Arroyo and her government seem satisfied with the mission so far, he said after having dinner with Arroyo.

Wolfowitz said the United States was not providing the training because it was the Philippines’ former colonial ruler but because Arroyo’s government asked for the help.

“We’re not here to do the job ourselves,” he said. “We are here to help them but not to take over for them.”

In Lamitan, on southern Basilan island, Catholic priests on Sunday passed around a petition urging Arroyo to try to extend the stay of the U.S. troops.

“We are uneasy with the thought that the Americans who are giving us moral and civic support will be leaving after their stay of six months,” the petition said. “We are insecure with the thought that their absence will bring us back to (square) one.”