CORNER / GMA CAN COME TO US FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT
MANILA,
NOVEMBER 18,
2011 (STAR) By Alexis Romero (President Aquino confers
the 'Order of Lakandula with Rank of Bayani' on US Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton at Malacañang yesterday. Willy Perez)
The United States will remain "in the corner of the Philippines,"
to help its "trusted ally" achieve its development goals and address security
concerns, visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said yesterday.
"Let me say, the United States will always be in the corner of the
Philippines, we will always stand and fight with you to achieve the future we
seek," Clinton said. Clinton was in the country for the celebration of the 60th
anniversary of the US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).
"Leaders here have worked hard to lay the groundwork for this kind of
economic leap by making reforms to improve transparency and tax collection and
to create more inclusive transparency," Clinton said.
"The United States wants to support these pro-growth reforms and help unlock
the Philippines' vast economic potential, to improve the lives of your own
people, to drive regional prosperity and to create more high paying jobs so
fewer citizens have to travel to distant countries to support their families,"
she added.
Clinton cited the Partnership for Growth (PFG) that she signed with Foreign
Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario. The deal aims to "unlock the constraints
to Philippine economic growth."
President Aquino and his officials witnessed the signing of the partnership
at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang yesterday afternoon.
Clinton said a team from US would work with partners in the Philippine
government to create a more transparent and predictable business environment,
lower trade barriers and strengthen the rule of law and anti-corruption drive.
"Together we hope to deliver an array of benefits to the people, including
more foreign investment, to create new jobs, a more streamlined court system
that can deliver justice and protect local businesses, better services and more
resources to fight poverty," she said.
In a highly symbolic ceremony aboard a guided-missile destroyer earlier
yesterday, Clinton underlined America's military and diplomatic support for the
Philippines, which is engaged in an increasingly tense dispute with China over
claims in the resource-rich West Philippine Sea.
On the USS Fitzgerald in Manila Bay, Clinton and her Philippine counterpart,
Del Rosario, and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, signed a declaration calling
for multilateral talks to resolve maritime disputes. Six countries in the region
have competing claims, but China wants them to negotiate one-to-one - and chafes
at any US involvement.
"The United States does not take any position on any territorial claim
because any nation... has a right to assert it. But they do not have a right to
pursue it through intimidation or coercion," Clinton said after meeting Aquino.
Policemen clash with students who blocked the convoy of US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton along Ayala Bridge in Manila yesterday. EDD GUMBAN Clinton said
that at this week's East Asian Summit in Bali, Indonesia, the US "will certainly
expect and participate in very open and frank discussions," including on the
maritime challenges in the region. Beijing said Tuesday it opposes bringing up
the issue at the summit. "Any nation with a claim has a right to exert it, but
they do not have a right to pursue it through intimidation or coercion," she
said.
"We must ensure that this alliance remains strong, capable of delivering
results for the people of the Philippines and the United States and our
neighbors throughout the Pacific," Clinton said.
Speaking later at a news conference, Clinton put the alliance in terms that
many Filipinos might better appreciate – praising boxing champion Manny
Pacquiao.
"I am a major Pacman fan," Clinton said. "In the spirit of the sport and his
success, let me say, the United States will always be in the corner of the
Philippines and we will stand and fight with you."
The US said it is helping its longtime Asian ally reinforce its weak navy as
it wrangles with China over the sea's potentially oil-rich Spratly islands,
which straddle one of the world's most vital sea lanes.
The Philippines acquired in May a Hamilton-class coast guard vessel from the
US. The ship has been renamed BRP Gregorio del Pilar, now the navy's flagship
and the biggest in its fleet.
"We are making sure that our collective defense capabilities and
communications infrastructure are operationally and materially capable of
deterring provocations from the full spectrum of state and non-state actors,"
Clinton said earlier aboard the Fitzgerald.
The Manila Declaration signed by Clinton and Del Rosario commemorated the
60th anniversary of the allies' Mutual Defense Treaty. It also calls for
"maintaining freedom of navigation, unimpeded lawful commerce, and transit of
people across the seas."
Del Rosario said that Washington's support for "a stronger, reliable
Philippine defense" was crucial for stability and the two allies' common goals
in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea. He reiterated that the
Philippines planned to seek UN arbitration in the territorial dispute.
"Today's signing of the vision statement on the MDT attest to the vitality of
our alliance especially at a time when the Philippines is facing challenges to
its territorial integrity in the West Philippine Sea," Del Rosario said. "No
country by itself has the capacity to carry out all the strategic tasks that is
required of it," he said.
"Today, we open new avenues to bridge the operational gaps between the
defense forces of the Philippines and the United States. A stronger, reliable
Philippine defense in the West Philippine Sea upholds our common and shared
interests to freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce and respect for
international law," he added. "We are charting the course of our relations by
seizing vast opportunities to grow our economies, opened by the fastest growing
region in the world, the Asia Pacific," Del Rosario said.
The Spratly Islands in the South China Sea are being disputed by China, the
Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei. The disputes have been feared
as Asia's next flashpoint for conflict.
Although not siding with any Asian claimant as it maintains robust economic
ties with Beijing, the US angered China when it stated it has a stake in
security and unhampered international commerce in the South China Sea. China
says American involvement will only complicate the issue.
The Philippines, whose poorly equipped forces are no match for China's
powerful military, has resorted to diplomatic protests and increasingly turned
to Washington to reinforce its anemic navy and air forces. Aquino has insisted
the country won't be bullied by China.
A senior US State Department official traveling with Clinton told reporters
that America's military assistance to the Philippines will increasingly turn to
bolstering its naval power.
For nearly a decade, the US military has been providing counterterrorism
training, weapons and intelligence to help Filipino troops battle
al-Qaeda-linked groups in Mindanao. Those include the Abu Sayyaf, a small but
violent group blacklisted by Washington as a terrorist organization, and its
allied militants from the Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiyah group.
"We are now in the process... of diversifying and changing the nature of our
engagement," the US official said on condition of anonymity because of
sensitivity of the information. "We will continue those efforts in the south
(Mindanao), but we are focusing more on maritime capabilities and other aspects
of expeditionary military power." – With Pia Lee-Brago, AP
US stays out of travel ban on GMA, but... By Pia
Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star) Updated November 17, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (6)
MANILA, Philippines - The United States stayed out of the controversy on the
travel ban imposed on former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo by the Department
of Justice but would consider a request from the former leader to go to the US
to undergo medical treatment.
US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, who was on her second day of visit
yesterday, said Arroyo, who faces corruption charges, has not filed a request to
go to the US.
"We would look at that," Clinton said during a town hall meeting of a
possible request from Arroyo.
Arroyo and her husband, Jose Miguel, were barred from leaving the country
Tuesday night even as the Supreme Court approved her travel abroad by issuing a
temporary restraining order on the travel ban.
Arroyo and former President Bill Clinton, the secretary's husband, were
classmates at Georgetown University.
Clinton declined to comment on the imposition of a travel ban on Arroyo,
saying that it is an internal issue.
"This is obviously a matter for the authorities of the Philippine government
and all of its branches and it would not be appropriate for me as a Secretary of
State to comment any further," she said during a press conference in Malacañang.
Clinton was on an official visit for the commemoration of the 60th
anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) considered as the mother treaty
of the Military Assistance Pact, the Military Bases Agreement and the Visiting
Forces Agreement (VFA).
She and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto del Rosario signed in Malacañang
yesterday the Joint Statement of Principles on the Partnership for Growth (PFG)
in which the two countries pledged to deepen economic ties by combining
resources and technical capacities.
"The PFG is a manifestation of the multi-dimensionality of Philippine-US
engagement. It also affirms the Aquino administration's relentless pursuit of a
broad-based economic growth towards a direct and perceptible transformation on
the quality of life of Filipinos," Del Rosario said.
The Philippines is one of four countries, and the only country in Asia,
engaged by the US in this kind of partnership. The others are Ghana, El
Salvador, and Tanzania.
These countries were chosen for their "solid track record in economic
performance. Democratic governance, investment in its people, and success on
other US government investments."
PFG is an initiative of the administration of US President Barrack Obama in
line with the Policy Directive on Global Development. The partnership agreement
emphasizes inclusive collaboration in a process of joint analysis, joint
planning and joint problem solving.
"The US values its historic and economic links with the Philippines. By
including the Philippines in this dynamic partnership, the US signals its
commitment to an economically stronger Philippines," said Clinton. – With Michelle Zoleta
Hillary admits being a Pacquiao fan By Alexis
Romero (The Philippine Star) Updated November 17, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (0)
MANILA, Philippines - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton yesterday
described as a "great victory" the controversial win of Filipino boxer Manny
Pacquiao against his Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez last Sunday.
Speaking at the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the US-Philippine
Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) in Malacañang, Clinton stressed that she is a fan of
the Filipino boxing champ.
"We know that Pacman had another great victory. I am a major Pacman fan and
in the spirit of his sport and his success, let me say that the United States
will always be in the corner of the Philippines," she said.
Clinton's comment drew applause from the audience consisting of Cabinet
officials, Palace employees and media.
Pacquiao retained his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown after
winning against Marquez via majority decision.
Last Sunday's bout, which marked the third time the two boxers fought against
each other, was held at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao's victory, however, became controversial after some boxing fans
claimed that the true winner of the bout was Marquez. They pointed out that
Pacquiao did not display the aggressiveness he was known for during the fight.
Marquez himself claimed that he won the match, a view shared even by some
Filipino boxing experts.
President Aquino, however, defended Pacquiao's victory, saying credit should
be given where it is due.
"While we may admire some people who make it by sheer luck or chance, in this
case he (Pacquiao) really worked hard to get to where he is and let's not take
that away from him," Aquino told reporters last Monday in Hawaii where he
attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
"Let's remember where Manny came from, and how he made himself a champion
again and again in so many weight categories," he added.
Clinton arrived in Malacañang at 11:28 a.m. on board a black limousine. She
was wearing a black coat and was escorted by security aides. She signed a Palace
guestbook at the reception hall, a practice done by dignitaries who visit the
country, and was welcomed by Cabinet officials at the Reception Hall.
Among the officials present during the event were Executive Secretary Paquito
Ochoa Jr., Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga, Justice
Secretary Leila de Lima, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Transportation
Secretary Manuel Roxas II, national security adviser Cesar Garcia, Finance
Secretary Cesar Purisima, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, presidential
spokesman Edwin Lacierda, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo and presidential peace
adviser Teresita Deles.
Also present were Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, US Ambassador to the
Philippines Harry Thomas Jr., deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte,
and Finance Undersecretary Rosalia de Leon.
Clinton talked with Cabinet officials while waiting for President Aquino, who
met with her at about 11:40 a.m.
They held a bilateral meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room before they
ate lunch at the Reception Hall at about 1 p.m.
In her speech after the meeting with Aquino, Clinton cited the Philippines as
one of the countries with the largest number of Facebook users.
"The United States looks to the Philippines and sees a trusted ally, a nation
that shares our democratic values, the ancestral home for millions of
Filipino-Americans, an important trade and development partner and, may I add, a
country with one of the highest Facebook penetration rates in the world," she
said.
"The Filipino people, like the American people, are eager to connect, to
seize new opportunities to have a voice in their own country and in global
debate."
In the same event, Clinton was awarded the Order of Lakandula with the rank
of bayani (hero). "This is an honor that I will always treasure," she said.
Clinton earlier vowed increasing military and economic support for the
Philippines, which is locked in an increasingly bitter territorial dispute with
China.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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