Manila  - The US military chief vowed Monday to continue supporting the Philippine armed forces' counter-insurgency and modernization efforts.

Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Washington remains committed to helping upgrade the Philippine military.

Mullen met Monday with his Philippine counterpart Lieutenant General Alexander Yano at the armed forces headquarters in Manila's suburban Quezon City.

"We discussed the support and assistance of the armed forces and the government of the United States, particularly in the capability upgrade and modernization, and our war against terror," Yano said after the meeting.

On Sunday, Mullen made a surprise visit to Zamboanga City in the strife-torn southern region, where an undisclosed number of US troops are deployed to train Filipino soldiers in counter-insurgency.

Mullen's visit to Zamboanga came a few days after a bomb exploded in front of an office of the US Agency for International Development that killed three people. (dpa)