GMA hoping to mend battered defense pact
The Philippines would seek to reaffirm its defense ties with the United States when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits the former American colony this week, an official said Sunday. President Gloria Arroyo was also expected to discuss the pact if she meets US President Barack Obama in Singapore later this week.
President Arroyo and her Defense officials are expected to express their “strong support” for the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) when Clinton arrives in Manila on November 12, Gary Olivar, deputy presidential spokesman, told reporters.
Ratified as a treaty by the Philippines in 1999, the agreement outlines the rules governing the conduct of US troops participating in joint military exercises here.
It allows for the presence of US troops on the southern island of Mindanao, where they are helping train Philippine forces against al Qaeda-linked militants.
“Obviously, the VFA will be a very big topic because that is very important to the Americans,” Olivar said. “We would welcome Clinton as the representative of our longest and most ardent supporter, the United States.”
Frayed relations
Ties between the allies are on the mend after Philippine legislators threatened to review the treaty amid public uproar over a controversial rape case involving a US Marine.
Lance Corporal Daniel Smith was convicted of raping in November 2005 a Filipina, who was popularly known by her alias “Nicole.” He was given a 40-year sentence in December 2006 but was discreetly transferred to a facility inside the US Embassy compound.
Public uproar that followed saw near-daily street protests demanding that Smith be held in a local jail. Smith won an appeal in April after the woman recanted her story in a bizarre twist of events.
Nationalist legislators, under pressure because of the controversy said, however, they would push for a review of the treaty.
APEC meeting
If she meets Obama during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit this coming weekend, President Arroyo would want to discuss the Visiting Forces Agreement, the Mindanao peace process and other regional security issues, Olivar said in a radio interview also on Sunday.
Singapore is hosting the APEC forum this week that culminates in the leaders’ summit this weekend.
“If there is an opportunity for the two leaders to talk about important matters, President Arroyo will seize that opportunity to discuss several issue with the US leader,” Olivar said.
He added that the Visiting Forces Agreement was a very important matter for the US government, and that was why it was highly likely that the President Arroyo and Obama could discuss the issue if they meet.
On the Mindanao peace process, Olivar said that the government always welcomes any outside help that could make the peace process to move forward.
“We always welcome anybody who could help whether it comes from Malaysia or [an] Islamic state or other regions like Japan, and obviously the United States is a very big help,” he added.
“The favorable opinion of the American is very important. In the future we should consider the suggestions of the US officials,” he said.
Asean-US dialogue
In another radio interview also on Sunday, Press Undersecretary Anthony Golez said that the President and Obama would meet for sure during the APEC meeting because there was a scheduled Asean-US dialogue.
Asean is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a grouping of 10 countries that includes the Philippines.
“There will be a dialogue Asean-US meeting, and since the Philippines is part of the Asean, President Arroyo and Obama will surely meet.”
He added, “During the meeting the agenda will regional cooperation, investment, climate change, and business development.”
Hillary’s Manila visit
This week, President Arroyo will also meet Clinton to discuss the smooth turnover of power and the implementation of a clean, honest and clean election next year. Clinton was also on her way to Singapore for the APEC Leaders’ Summit.
Clinton’s visit comes five months after Defense Secretary Robert Gates visited Manila and vowed continued support for Philippine troops in the fight against Islamic militants.
Small numbers of US forces have been rotating to Mindanao since 2003, providing intelligence and training to Philippine troops that have led to the capture or deaths of key leaders of the Abu Sayyaf militant group.
The Abu Sayyaf is blamed for the country’s worst terrorist attacks, including a series of bombings and kidnappings.
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said over the weekend that Clinton’s visit “further shows that the Philippines and the United States have very good relations.”
But the Palace did not say if Clinton’s visit was a prelude to the APEC meeting in Singapore.
Remonde said that the Palace welcomed the visit of Clinton, whose last trip to the country was when she was the US First Lady. President Arroyo and former US President Bill Clinton have known each other since they were classmates at the Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
AFP AND ANGELO S. SAMONTE
The Manila Times
Monday, 09 November 2009 00:09
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