By Jennie L. Ilustre
WASHINGTON - Despite the controversy on the case of six American Marines accused of raping a Filipina and concerns over the Philippines’ growing interaction with China, there will be no changes in the “very, very strong and very unique relations” between the two nations.
United States Ambassador-Designate to the Philippines Kristie Anne Kenney made the assertion in reply to questions on the Marine case and China during her Senate confirmation hearing here on January 31. (The US embassy in Manila said the new envoy will be in Manila in March.).
In her opening statement, she also foresees that “our historic relationship with the Philippines will continue to flourish as we pursue our common vision of peace, stability, and prosperity.”

 

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who presided at the Senate foreign relations committee hearing, asked probing questions for 15 minutes. Kenney, smartly dressed in a dark suit, her short chestnut hair stylishly cut, was cool, confident and articulate in her testimony.
Murkowski, who described the Philippines as a country “in political turmoil,” asked Kenney what was the appropriate U.S. “level of involvement.” Kenney said she would encourage strengthening the Philippines’ fundamental “institutions of democracy” to address its current political turmoil.
She added this means making sure that “their branches-”the legislative, the executive and judicial-are very strong, independent, transparent, and that they create the kind of conditions that allow a stable democracy to grow that leads them to economic growth and development."
She described the case of the U.S. Marines accused of raping a Filipina, as “a difficult situation.” She stressed the importance of seeing that justice is served “for both the accused and accuser.” She added a good vehicle to address this is the Visiting Forces Agreement, adding, “We’re lucky to have that.”
Asked on China’s growing interaction with the Philippines, she replied, “Our relationship with the Philippines is one of extraordinary importance. I do not see that that changes.” She said the Philippines is just doing what the U.S. and the rest of the world have done since globalization. “The Philippines is looking for more markets, more opportunities to eliminate trade barriers.” But she added: “We welcome (! the Philippines’) relations with other Asian partners, but they should insure that these relationships are open and transparent, and that they contribute to a level playing field for all investors and businesses, and that they contribute to mutual security for all of us.”
She stressed: “”The Philippines is a longstanding treaty ally of the United States and became a major non-NATO Ally in 2003. Our peoples fought side by side to preserve freedom and democracy in World War II, and today our nations stand  together in fighting the global war on terrorism and the global war against poverty." “The size and complexity of the U.S. Mission in Manila reflects the depth and breadth of our relationship with the Philippines,” she added. “Twenty-seven different agencies are present strengthening our mutual security, promoting prosperity and serving the American and Filipino publics, to include providing important consular and veterans benefits services.”
In her statement, she also said, “We have provided economic assistance for a highly successful program to help re-integrate former combatants into productive life in predominantly Muslim areas of Mindanao, and hope to offer a similar program if another major Muslim insurgent group signs a peace accord with the Philippine government.”
Kenney would replace Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone, who left the Philippines in May last year to be the envoy in Egypt.
Kenney is expected to sail through her confirmation when the 110th U.S. Congress votes on her nomination this month. She is reportedly a personal choice of Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. A career diplomat, she was recently ambassador to Ecuador.
Probably aware of the current controversy over the alleged rigging of the 20043 elections in the Philippines, the ambassador-designate emphasized the “shared democratic values” between the two peoples, adding “We each have the goal of making our democracies strong and stable so that every citizen’s vote has meaning."
The relationship between the two countries, she said, extends for more than a century. She cited their strong relationship in global forums and issues.
“The Philippines is a vital contributor to international peacekeeping missions, and we work actively together at the United Nations as well as in key regional organizations such as APEC and the ASEAN Regional Forum," she continued.
She pledged to help promote economic prosperity in the Philippines because by doing so, “we contribute directly to our own prosperity and security. We work together to open markets, protect intellectual property rights, fight corruption, and promote structural reforms to encourage economic growth and development. The Philippines is currently a threshold country for the Millennium Challenge Account, a reflection of its interest and commitment to improving governance and economic growth."
She noted that the United States is the largest investor in the Philippines and, in most years, its number one trading partner.
She added: “More than 125,000 U.S. citizens reside in the Philippines and more than half a million visit every year. There are approximately two million Americans of Philippines ancestry in the United States."
The former ambassador to Ecuador who hed a senior position at the State Department and the National Security Council, noted that the US currently trains Filipino troops in the battle to eradicate the Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist  organization Abu Sayyaf in the southern Philippines.
The Philippines hopes to sign a peace accord with the MILF this year to end a rebellion that costs thousands of lives in Mindanao. It will be recalled that the US also provided aid in the reintegration of former members of the Moro National Liberation Front of Nur Misuari when the latter signed a peace accord in 1996.
Kenney said the US hopes to offer a similar program if the 12,00-strong MILF signs a peace agreement with the Philippine government. For the last two years, Malaysia has been brokering the negotiations between the MILF and the Philippine government.
The US believes that a peace accord with the MILF will help ferret out all foreign Islamic terrorists linked to the Jemaah Islamiyah network who are believed to be training in the hinterlands of Mindanao. The Philippines had earlier charged the MILF with harboring these terrorists in their controlled areas.
American troops are now participating in a joint training operation with Philippine troops in Sulu, the main bastion of the Abu Sayyaf terrorists who have been wreaking havoc in the south for many years.