LEGAZPI CITY ? The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it was investigating allegations that prostitutes were being delivered nightly to US servicemen taking part in military exercises in the Bicol region.

Lt. Col. Neneveigh L. Alcovindas, public information officer of the RP-US Balikatan mission, said Monday that he was saddened by the report alleging that eight to 10 women were being delivered every night to hotels to have sex with the Americans.

He said he took the issue seriously and had called on his US counterparts after the story came out on the Inquirer?s front page.

?We have an ongoing joint investigation on the allegations and I have coordinated with US Balikatan public information officer Shane Montgomery,? Alcovindas said.

He said Montgomery had assured him that the Americans were respecting Filipino sensibilities.

?It is true that there were some tourists billeted in various hotels in Legazpi City due to the ongoing Magayon Festival but it could be a case of mistaken identity and the Balikatan servicemen were instead pinpointed,? he added.

Tourists, rather than the US servicemen, might be the targets of the flesh trade but the Balikatan teams were not involved, he said.

Alcovindas said the servicemen were tightly guarded both for security reasons and to comply with the Balikatan rules on curfew hours.

?If Senator Francis Pangilinan insists on a Senate inquiry,? Alcovindas said, ?the AFP is willing to attend and shed light on the matter.?

He said Balikatan participants were busy on various infrastructure and missionary projects.