Philippines reaffirms commitment to bilateral, multilateral obligations

RELATED STORIES

NAVIGATE: Home » All Entries, Press Releases & Statements » Philippines reaffirms commitment to bilateral, multilateral obligations

PUBLISHED ON June 28, 2007 AT 3:52 PM

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reaffirmed today the country’s commitment to its bilateral as well as multilateral obligations in addressing regional security threats.

The President made the assurance to US Pacific Command chief Admiral Timothy Keating who paid a courtesy call on her in Malacanang this morning.

In a statement, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said the President also thanked the United States for its participation in relief and rescue operations in the disasters that hit the country in the past.

She also welcomed the Philippine visit of the USS Peleleu, noting that the US ship was the second to arrive in the country on a mercy and goodwill mission.

Admiral Keating, who assumed the US PACOM post last March, was accompanied to Malacanang by US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney.

Before his assignment to the Hawaii-based US Pacific Command, Admiral Keating headed the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the US Northern Command.

The US PACOM chief arrived in the Philippines last Sunday to attend the RP-US Mutual Defense Board (MDB) and Security Engagement Board (SEB) meeting in Camp Aguinaldo.

The US and the Philippines co-chair the two boards under the two countries’ Mutual Defense Treaty of 1958.

From Malacanang, Admiral Keating was scheduled to proceed to Legazpi City to inspect a US-assisted humanitarian project before flying to Japan later today.

The RP-US MDB and the RP-US SEB are co-chaired by the commander of the US PACOM and the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The two boards were created to enhance the bilateral relations between the Philippines and the US through various activities such as combined military exercises, MDB/SEB meetings, exercise-related construction activities, exchanges and VIP visits, security assistance activities, civic action projects, conferences, workshops and ship visits.

The two boards hold an en banc meeting once a year to go over the program of activities for the succeeding year.

Also with Keating and Kenney were Maj. Jay Copher, Philippine desk officer of the US PACOM; Capt. Greg Nosal, the admiral’s executive assistant; and Paul Jones, deputy US ambassador to the Philippines.

Aside from the President, the Philippine side was represented by Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon, National Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebadane, and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo. (OPS)

RSS feed • Subscribe via email • Discuss

Leave a Comment (Moderated)

THE NEWS IN PICTURES

End The War. Members of the youth group Anakbayan denounce the war being waged by the government in Mindanao against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. (Photo: arkibongbayan.org)

Where Are They? Relatives, friends and colleagues of victims of enforced disappearances commemorate the International Day of the Disappeared with lighted lanterns and photographs at the Plaza Miranda and in Mendiola on Aug. 30. (Photo: arkibongbayan.org)

Free at Last. The so-called Tagaytay 5 -- Aris Sarmiento, Axel Pinpin, Riel Custodio, Michael Masayes and Rico Ybañez -- shown here inside their prison cell during their incarceration, were freed yesterday. “The dismissal of trumped-up charges and release of Tagaytay 5 is a victory for human rights,” said Ruth Cervantes, Karapatan's public information officer. (Photo: freetagaytay5.net)

Displaced. Residents of North Cotabato have been the ones badly affected by the military offensives launched against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. "As the government continues to indiscriminately drop bombs on Moro and Christian villages in Aleosan and Pikit, more and more civilians are displaced," said Kawagib, a Moro human-rights group.(Photo: Suara Bangsamoro/arkibongbayan.org)

In One Roof. Villagers who fled their homes after the clashes last week between government troops and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the south brought every human life with them, including their farm animals. They now live under one roof at an evacuation center in Pikit, North Cotabato. (Photo: Bong Sarmiento / Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project)

Emergency. A scene from "Ambulancia," a short film that tells of a painful twist in an ambulance driver's belief that a dying patient can be saved by running over stray animals on the streets. The award-winning film will be screened at the so-called "Woodstock of short films" in Germany. Richard Legaspi directed the film and it stars Alan Paule and Nor Domingo. (Contributed photo)

Sendoff. The Philippine Army dispatched today, Aug. 10, the 68th Infantry Battalion to Maguindanao. This battalion, together with the 46th Infantry Battalion from Samar, will augment the troops in Central Mindanao for the security operations that will be conducted to ensure peaceful elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao tomorrow. (Photo: Philippine Army)

Killings Denounced. Mindanao journalists gathered in General Santos City on Friday to denounce the recent attacks on their colleagues. On Monday, Dennis Cuesta, a Radio Mindanao Network commentator in General Santos, was shot and is fighting for his life. On Thursday, another RMN broadcaster, Martin Roxas of Capiz City, was shot dead. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan/davaotoday.com)

If This Wall Could Talk. With the pleasant scenery as a backdrop (and a constant reminder, perhaps, of a life they could have had), this poor family try to survive by actually living by the sidewalk outside the Chinese school in Davao City. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan/davaotoday.com)

Undaunted. Activists from Anakbayan scuffle with the police as the Chevrolet Suburban carrying President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo passes by the junction before the newly built Bankerohan bridge in Davao City last week. The president was in the city for the declaration of the merger of Lakas-CMD and Kampi parties. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan/davaotoday.com)

Freedom Denied. Lex Adonis, a former broadcaster of Bombo Radyo in Davao City, inside the Davao Penal Colony, where he was jailed after House Speaker Prospero Nograles sued him for libel over a story involving the Davao congressman's alleged sexual relations with a woman other than his wife. Despite a court order, Adonis remains in jail. (File photo by davaotoday.com)

Tribute to Ka Bel. Activists, artists, friends and supporters troop to the Philippine Independent Church on Taft Avenue Monday night to honor AnakPawis Rep. Crispin Beltran, who died last week. Beltran will be buried in Bulacan today, after a ceremony honoring him at the House of Representatives, where he served for several terms as party-list congressman. (Photo by Ayi Muallam/pinoypress.net)

Rare Sight. Moro women students of a madrasah play volleyball during a break in barangay Ugalingan, Carmen, North Cotabato, last week. While Filipina Moros are considered relatively open in their lifestyle compared to Muslim women in other countries, scenes like this are not very common in Moro areas in Mindanao. (Photo by Keith Bacongco/AKP Images)

Ka Bel's Fight. An activist mourns the death of AnakPawis Rep. Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran, who died Tuesday. Ka Bel's remains lie in state at the IFI Cathedral in Manila. His colleagues, family and friends have lined up a series of tributes. Click here for the schedules, as well as statements and poems honoring Ka Bel. (Photo by courtesy of arkibongbayan)