US embassy cable - 05MANILA655

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 000655 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR S, G/TIP, EAP/PMBS, EAP/RSP, IO/UNP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KWMN, PHUM, PTER, BM, IZ, SU, JA, RP 
SUBJECT: MEETING WITH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROMULO 
 
Classified By: Pol/C Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C)  Summary.  In a meeting with Ambassador on February 
9, Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo reiterated the GRP's 
commitment to combating trafficking-in-persons while working 
with Japan on implementation of new regulations on 
entertainers, confirmed that the de-listing as a terrorist 
organization of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) 
and New People's Army (NPA) will depend on "proof" of a 
sincere desire to renounce terrorism, promised to raise human 
rights concerns with the visiting Burmese Prime Minister 
later this month, urged the USG to discuss the East Asian 
Summit directly with Malaysia, and promised continued 
cooperation on hostages in Iraq.  Ambassador urged 
coordination within the UN Security Council on a tribunal for 
Sudan and other issues.  Romulo hopes to visit Washington in 
early April -- which Embassy supports -- and noted President 
Arroyo's interest in visiting New York and Washington in 
September.  End Summary. 
 
Japayukis 
--------- 
 
2.  (C)  Ambassador, accompanied by Pol/C, met with Foreign 
Secretary Romulo on February 9 at Malacanang Palace (prior to 
 
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Admiral Fargo's call on President Arroyo -- septel). 
Assistant Secretary for American Affairs Ariel Abadilla and 
U.S. Division Director Marc de Borja joined.  In response to 
Ambassador's query, Romulo said he had visited Japan recently 
to clarify issues related to new regulations on entertainer 
visas, which he said would take effect in two phases in 
mid-February and mid-March.  He noted that there would be no 
retroactivity, and promised that GRP agencies would work 
closely with the Japanese Embassy to ensure processing of 
legitimate entertainers who have the required overseas 
experience and/or training.  He reiterated the GRP's strong 
commitment to combating trafficking-in-persons, citing the 
2003 law, and said that implementation and enforcement of the 
new Japanese regulations were in the interests of both the 
Philippines and Japan, a position explicitly endorsed by 
President Arroyo.  He insisted that there had been "no 
weakening or softening" of GRP position on TIP and that the 
Philippines did not wish to be known as a purveyor or 
supplier of trafficked persons.  He welcomed Japan's 
agreement to allow access for foreign health workers and care 
givers, perhaps as many as 750,000, which would include 
Filipinos. 
 
CPP/NPA 
------- 
 
3.  (C)  Romulo discussed briefly his recent travels to 
Europe, where he raised the CPP/NPA issue with various 
governments and the EU.  He confirmed the GRP position that 
delisting as a foreign terrorist organization depended on a 
demonstration or "proof" of sincerity by the CPP/NPA, such as 
entering into a cease-fire or new peace talks.  He said that 
he had assured these governments that the GRP was not seeking 
delisting in advance of such steps by the CPP/NPA.  He cited 
with particular concern the use of child soldiers. 
 
UN and Sudan 
------------ 
 
4.  (C)  Ambassador underscored the importance of GRP/US 
cooperation both at the UNSC and in the UNGA as well as on UN 
reforms in the wake of the UN High-level Panel on "Threats, 
Challenges, and Change."  He urged the GRP to support the 
UN/AU Tribunal for Sudan now under discussion in the UNSC, an 
issue that we had already raised with the DFA.  He cited the 
importance of empowering African nations in this case, as 
with the Rwanda tribunal.  Romulo noted "three models" for 
tribunals and admitted ongoing concerns about the ICC from 
the Department of National Defense and the Department of 
Interior and Local Government (DILG).  He added that the GRP 
had no plans to submit the Rome Treaty for Senate 
ratification.  Romulo said that he shared the objections 
lodged by DILG and others. 
 
Burma 
----- 
 
5.  (C)  Pointing to the expected visit by the new Burmese 
Prime Minister later this month, Ambassador called upon the 
GRP to take the opportunity to urge democratization and 
release of Aung San Suu Kyi, among other issues, during the 
visit -- notwithstanding ASEAN's usual reluctance to press 
the Burmese.  Romulo assured the Ambassador that "we are not 
nervous or shy about raising such issues," and cited 
President Arroyo's "categorical" comments at the ASEAN Summit 
in Vientiane calling for progress on the democratic roadmap 
and release of ASSK and other NLD leaders, and highlighting 
the importance for ASEAN credibility of these issues.  Romulo 
recalled with obvious pride his own meeting in Rangoon with 
ASSK while he was a Senator in the mid-1990s.  Then, she had 
noted that she was younger than the generals, and had 
wondered "how long can they last?"  Romulo urged the U.S. and 
Europe to continue to apply public pressure on Burma; "we 
should all raise a public outcry."  He noted that, during 
recent budget hearings, some Senators indicated support for a 
Senate resolution on ASSK's release, as well as concerns 
about Burma's expected chairmanship of ASEAN in 2006. 
Ambassador urged the GRP to endorse such legislative 
resolutions.  (Note:  In a separate meeting with Pol/C, 
Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Senator 
Miriam Defensor Santiago cited her intention to introduce a 
sense of the Senate resolution calling for the GRP to ensure 
that Burma did not become ASEAN chairman in 2006. End note) 
 
EAS 
--- 
 
6.  (C)  Ambassador noted US positive views of the growing 
integration of China in the region, but expressed concern 
that Chinese or other efforts to exclude the U.S. from 
regional groupings -- such as the proposed East Asian Summit 
-- promoted rivalry rather than dialogue, integration, and 
partnership.  He urged the GRP to speak out in favor of 
inclusiveness, particularly with respect to the proposed EAS. 
 Romulo recommended that the USG speak directly to Malaysia 
regarding EAS, "due to their history."  Ambassador noted that 
we were in close touch with all our Asian friends on this 
subject, and hoped in particular for GRP support. 
 
Hostages in Iraq 
---------------- 
 
7.  (C)  Ambassador urged that our two governments continue 
close cooperation on the SATCO hostage case involving one 
American and one Filipino, despite their apparent physical 
separation at this point.  He urged that we continue to deal 
together for their joint release, and not let the hostage 
takers once again divide us, as in the Angelo de la Cruz 
affair last year.  Romulo affirmed the importance of staying 
together, and cited existing close communication between DFA 
U/S Seguis in Baghdad with the Hostage Working Group, notably 
with Erik Rye. 
 
Visits 
------ 
 
8.  (C)  Romulo expressed interest in visiting Washington "as 
soon as possible."  He offered as possible options the week 
before or the week after Holy Week (March 20-27).  Ambassador 
noted that Ambassador Del Rosario had already indicated 
Romulo's interest in an April visit, and promised to raise 
this with Secretary Rice.  He observed that continued GRP 
support on the full range of issues they had just discussed 
-- from cooperation on Sudan at the UN to solidarity on our 
hostages in Iraq -- would highlight the importance of US-GRP 
relations, and the usefulness of an early call by Romulo on 
Secretary Rice.  Romulo added that President Arroyo also 
 
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plans a working visit to the U.S. around September and hoped 
to meet with the President.  (We will recommend approval of 
both requests in a separate message.) 
Ricciardone