`Filipinos want U.S. forces back'

`Filipinos want U.S. forces back'

MANILA (AFP): A majority of Filipinos want U.S. forces to return to the country, some two years after they left, a survey of residents here showed yesterday.

The survey by ABS-CBN, the country's largest broadcasting firm last month, found that despite negative publicity against the U.S. presence and the decision by the Philippine senate to close all US bases in 1992, 54 percent of respondents in the capital "advocate the return of the U.S. bases."

On the question of independence it found that 27 percent believed the Philippines should be more independent from the United States, while 42 percent said the pull-out had taught Filipinos to be more independent.

Among the top reasons cited for the return were the income generated by the troops and the country's need for military assistance and security.