US embassy cable - 05MANILA5098

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 005098 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, RP 
SUBJECT: DFA ON MEDIA REPORTS RE US-RP RELATIONSHIP 
 
 
Classified By: A/DCM Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C)  Acting Foreign Secretary Edsel Custodio called in 
Charge d'Affaires Jones to DFA on November 2 to receive an 
aide memoire (full text in para 6) regarding recent media 
reports purportedly based on alleged US Embassy documents 
that the GRP believes are "aggravating political tensions and 
deepening political diversions in the Philippines."  CDA 
acknowledged that such reports possibly could create 
political tensions here and promised to report the aide 
memoire's contents to Washington.  He said that the media 
reports conveyed a distorted picture of the US' relationship 
with the Philippines and with its political leadership and 
did not reflect the policies or perceptions of the USG.  He 
added, however, that since there was an ongoing criminal 
investigation related to the apparent theft of USG classified 
information, the Embassy would not comment on individual 
reports, even to deny them.  He noted that he would describe 
the important nature of our bilateral relationship and 
cooperation between our two governments in a November 3 
speech to the combined Rotary Clubs of Manila, and added that 
upcoming visits by USAID Assistant Administrator Kunder and 
EAP DAS John would provide further evidence of our continued 
cooperation. 
 
2.  (C)  CDA urged the GRP to keep the focus on our 
substantive agenda, with which Secretary Custodio agreed. 
Along these lines, he congratulated the GRP for the capture 
of leaders of the Rajah Solaiman Movement on October 26, and 
urged continued close cooperation on counterterrorism.  He 
expressed appreciation for the reservations about the impact 
on trade that the GRP had expressed during the deliberations 
on the UNESCO cultural diversity convention.  He encouraged 
the GRP to speak out at the WTO and with the EU for greater 
liberalization of agricultural trade, which would be in the 
interest of the Philippines.  He requested GRP consider 
co-sponsorship of the designation by the 1267 Committee of 
three individual Abu Sayyaf Group members, and requested a 
decision by November 4, noting that emboffs have already 
discussed this issue in depth with the Philippine 
Anti-Terrorism Task Force. 
 
3.  (C)  Custodio expressed special concern about recent 
articles in the "Tribune" that had included negative comments 
about President Arroyo allegedly made by Foreign Secretary 
Romulo to an Embassy poloff in October 2004 and in the 
Philippine Daily Inquirer allegedly linking former President 
Ramos to coup plots.  CDA acknowledged the seriousness of 
such allegations, noted that he had already requested to meet 
with former President Ramos, and encouraged Secretary Romulo 
directly to deny such reports about his alleged remarks. 
 
 
4.  (U)  To journalists gathered outside the Secretary's 
suite after the meeting, CDA reiterated the important nature 
of our bilateral relationship, and highlighted the upcoming 
visits as opportunities further to advance our substantive 
agenda. 
 
5.  (C)  Embassy proposes to respond to the aide memoire with 
the following diplomatic note: 
 
The Embassy of the United States of America presents its 
compliments to the Department of Foreign Affairs of the 
Republic of the Philippines and has the honor to reiterate 
the importance the Government of the United States places on 
its alliance and partnership with the Republic of the 
Philippines, as well as on valued relationships with 
political leaders and governmental officials of the Republic 
of the Philippines. 
 
6.  (C)  Text of aide memoire 
Begin quote 
 
The Department of Foreign Affairs has asked the Embassy of 
the United States of America to this meeting because of the 
strong desire of the Philippine Government to have these 
matters clarified. 
 
The Philippine Government intends to act on these matters, 
and would like to do so only after having gathered the 
appropriate facts and information. 
 
A number of media reports have made certain claims and 
allegations on what appears to be policies and perceptions of 
the United States Government with regard to the Philippine 
and its leadership.  These media reports cite U.S. Embassy 
reports as basis. 
 
The claims and allegation that have been made are a source of 
grave concern for the Philippine Government in general, and 
its desire to maintain friendly and harmonious relations with 
the United States Government, in particular. 
These claims and allegations are also contributing to further 
aggravating political tensions and deepening political 
diversions in the Philippines. 
 
The Philippine Government is interested in ascertaining if 
these claims and allegations are true, in whole or in part, 
and if these are reflective of the current policy of the 
United States Government with regard to the Philippine 
Government and with regard to the relations between the 
Philippines and the United States. 
 
The Department of Foreign Affairs would appreciate receiving 
the views of the U.S. Embassy on these matters. 
end quote 
 
 
Jones