US embassy cable - 05MANILA4224

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 004224 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/PMBS, INR/EAP, USIP - SOLOMON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINS, KISL, ECON, RP 
SUBJECT: INCOMING ARMM GOVERNOR EAGER FOR CONTINUED US 
ASSISTANCE 
 
REF: MANILA 3726 
 
Classified By: Political Officer Joseph Saus 
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary.  Autonomous Region In Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) 
Governor-elect Zaldy Ampatuan has promised to embrace a 
transparent and consultative leadership platform that would 
focus on the Mindanao peace process, local education needs, 
health care, and agriculture.  Mission will work to establish 
a good working relationship with Ampatuan, who expressed 
eagerness to continue US assistance programs and who agreed 
to an in-depth briefing by USAID upon assuming office on 
September 30.  However, there is concern in some circles that 
Ampatuan may simply serve as a proxy for his powerful 
political boss father, and not govern the ARMM effectively. 
End Summary. 
 
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Zaldy And Friends Meet The Mission 
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2. (C) Charge, A/DCM, USAID Director, and poloff met with 
ARMM Governor-elect Zaldy Ampatuan, at his request, on August 
31.  Accompanying him were Zamzamin Ampatuan (Convenor of the 
National Anti-Poverty Commission), Shamron Ampatuan (Mayor of 
Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao Province), and Bassit Accoy 
(incoming ARMM Technical Advisor).  (Note:  Zamzamin and 
Shamron are Zaldy's second cousin and nephew, respectively. 
Zamzamin is a close Embassy contact, well known for his 
articulate and moderate views of Islam, who had previously 
served as Executive Director of the Presidential Office of 
Muslim Affairs.  End Note.) 
 
3.  (SBU) Ampatuan identified his top priorities for the ARMM 
as: the peace process; education for his constituents; health 
care; and agriculture.  He pledged that his leadership will 
be transparent and in close consultation with ARMM 
constituents. 
 
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Peace Process And Education 
--------------------------- 
 
4.  (SBU) Zamzamin (not Zaldy) did most of the talking when 
it came to specifics.  It is important to remain "realistic" 
regarding the peace process and closely to review all 
provisions, according to Zamzamin.  Zaldy noted that improved 
education, health, and agriculture could result from a 
lasting peace agreement in the region.  Regarding education, 
Zamzamin explained the long-term financial problems of the 
ARMM's Department of Education have prompted local teachers 
to work without some pay and benefits for several years. 
Zaldy promised to address these problems by improving the 
economy and countering Muslim extremism through better 
education.  Zamzamin added the ARMM lacks the funding, 
resources, and training capacity to incorporate a nationally 
mandated secular/Islamic curriculum. 
 
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Agriculture And Industry 
------------------------ 
 
5.  (SBU) Zaldy noted there is plenty of idle land available 
for agriculture and stressed that fisheries are also 
important for the coastal regions and island provinces of the 
ARMM.  To attract investment, Zamzamin cited a tax incentive 
that facilitates the importation of farm machinery.  Zamzamin 
also cited Malaysian and Chinese interest in developing 
strategic minerals and possible petroleum deposits in the 
Liguasan Marsh and the Sulu Sea. 
 
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Health Care 
----------- 
 
6.  (SBU)  According to Zamzamin, 80-percent of ARMM's budget 
goes to "personnel," and what is left cannot support the 
ARMM's programs, including health care.  As a result, the 
ARMM needs to find additional sources, including from 
international donors.  Charge and USAID Director highlighted 
the US-funded network of midwife clinics, which Zamzamin 
agreed were an important contribution. 
 
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Peace and Stability 
------------------- 
 
7.  (SBU) The Ampatuans noted that several family members, 
including Zaldy's brother, have died in bombings or ambushes 
resulting from clan rivalry-related violence.  Zamzamin 
stressed that local roads could help security forces move 
against suspected terrorists or criminals.  He requested a 
continuation of the "Arms to Farms" Livelihood Enhancement 
Assistance program for ex-combatant rebels. 
 
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Mission Looks To Continued Partnership 
-------------------------------------- 
 
8.  (SBU) Charge and other Mission officials pledged to 
continue close cooperation with the ARMM and described a 
variety of ongoing programs, mostly funded by USAID.  We 
offered to provide an in-depth briefing by USAID officials, 
which Zaldy asked to defer until he takes office on September 
30.  He said that he planned to invite Charge and other USG 
officials to the ceremony.  He expressed eagerness to work 
with USAID. 
 
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Comment 
------- 
 
9.  (C) Many in Mindanao and Manila have expressed concern 
over the 37-year old Zaldy's poor personal reputation and 
belief that he will merely act as a proxy for his father, the 
Ampatuan patriarch and political boss, especially in 
Maguindanao.  Others fear that he will concentrate on 
Maguindanao to the detriment of other areas in the ARMM.  The 
ARMM faces serious economic and developmental problems; Zaldy 
will need much more than good fortune and family influence to 
get the region on track.  Mission will seek to work 
productively with Zaldy, as with his predecessor, in order to 
continue our outstanding programs that have already 
contributed so much to the expansion of peace and development 
in the Philippines' poorest region. 
 
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm 
 
You can also access this site through the State Department's 
Classified SIPRNET website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/ 
 
JOHNSON