SENATOR INOUYE SUPPORTS PHILIPPINE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 003479 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR H, EAP, AND EAP/MTS USPACOM FOR FPA HUSO OSD/ISA/AP (LAWLESS/TOOLAN/BAILEY) JS/J5 (WILKES/ROBINSON/CLEMMONS) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OREP PTER MCAP MOPS MARR RP SUBJECT: SENATOR INOUYE SUPPORTS PHILIPPINE COUNTERTERRORISM MODEL, DEFENSE REFORM; VISITS ZAMBOANGA REF: MANILA 3450 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Senator Inouye stressed publicly and privately his admiration and support for the Philippine-US approach to counterterrorism and defense reform during his August 11-15 visit to the Philippines. Inouye enthused at the "Philippine model," which extends a "hand of friendship" to local populaces afflicted by terrorism through significant humanitarian, development, and civil-military assistance, while strengthening the "iron fist" of military/police capabilities to combat terrorists. He praised Secretary of Defense Cruz for his personal leadership of defense reform that is changing the culture of the Philippine military and enhancing its capabilities. Inouye marveled at his enthusiastic reception by Muslims and Christians alike during a USAID turnover of solar electricity units to 185 villages in Muslim Mindanao, providing electricity for the first time to some 5,000 families, and praised USAID's success at providing livelihood skills to some 28,000 former Moro National Liberation Front fighters. He recounted the extraordinary joint effort he witnessed by the US Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines, USAID, and Philippine civil and military officials to rid Mindanao of terrorists. Given Senator Inouye's extensive experience in the Philippines, his comments had significant impact on President Arroyo and her cabinet, leadership of the House and Senate, and the public at large. Senator Inouye's dinner with President Arroyo and other aspects of his visit are reported spetels. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) During his one-day trip to Zamboanga August 12, Senator Inouye was briefed on US Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) support for ongoing Southern Command operations on the island of Jolo. He later participated in a USAID ceremony turning over solar electricity generation units to 185 villages serving 5,000 families in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Senator Inouye was impressed by how JSOTF-P's close working relationship with USAID and partnership with Philippine counterparts was helping to address the underlying conditions of terrorism through short-term civil-military operations involving medical, dental engineering projects, and longer-term infrastructure; renewable energy; health; education; and small enterprise development. Senator Inouye was particularly impressed that the governor of Basilan (a former Abu Sayyaf Group member) now carefully guards the island's security so as not to endanger the improved economic environment, and took admiring note of how USAID's "Arms to Farms" program had reintegrated 28,000 former Moro National Liberation Front fighters back into productive society. The moving ceremony of USAID's Alliance for Mindanao Off-Grid Renewable Energy Program ("AMORE") included senior ARMM representatives, local government authorities, community organizations, children, the Governor of the island of Tawi-Tawi, and the GRP Chairman of the National Anti-Poverty Commission. ¶3. (SBU) Senator Inouye said he was deeply impressed by the "Philippine" model of combating terrorism and progress on defense reform, and returned to these themes throughout his visit in meetings with President Arroyo, Senate President Villar, House Speaker de Venecia, and other senior officials, as well in public comments to the press. Describing the joint US-Philippine civil-military counterterrorism efforts he had observed in Mindanao, Senator Inouye noted the effusive welcome he had received from Muslim youth. He said the sight of Muslims and Christians, and Filipinos and Americans united in an effort to bring peace to Mindanao filled him with hope and optimism for a secure and prosperous future. Given the enormous admiration for Senator Inouye in the Philippines, his comments had significant impact on President Arroyo and her cabinet, leadership of the House and Senate, and the public at large. ¶4. (SBU) In his August 14 meeting with Secretary Cruz, Senator Inouye said he was struck by the close working relationship between US and Philippine troops in Zamboanga. He stated that the combination of "hard and soft power" appeared to work, adding that this "positive way" of combating terrorism could serve as a model for counterterrorism efforts elsewhere. Cruz agreed on the effectiveness of the approach, noting that the "Philippine model" of civil-military operations had helped change the MANILA 00003479 002 OF 002 attitude of the Muslim population toward US service members from hostility to warmth. ¶4. (SBU) Complimenting Secretary Cruz on his efforts to transform the Philippine military and defense establishment, Senator Inouye said he was extremely impressed by the progress the Armed Forces of the Philippines had made, and linked progress on reform to improvements in fighting terrorism. Senator Inouye stated that the Philippines would find that other countries stood ready to help as it pursued reform. ¶5. (SBU) An AFP briefing hit the PDR's highlights and cited successes in its 10 key areas. -- Multi-year Defense Planning: The rationalized and unified multi-year defense budget is currently in its second cycle and serving as a model for other government agencies. -- Operations/Intelligence/Training: Joint doctrine development is now underway and a 10-year Philippine Intelligence Reform program has just been approved. -- Logistics Capacity: Marked improvements have been achieved in operational readiness rates and inventory controls, allowing for better sustainment of units in field. -- Professional Development: The concept of train-the-trainer has been embedded into all training programs. There is special focus on professional military, enlisted, and staff development. -- Personnel Management: The AFP has adopted a whole cycle approach to managing its personnel from recruitment to retirement, with special emphasis on morale and welfare and law and order. -- Multi-year Capability Upgrade Plan (CUP): Broken into two tranches, this 18-year plan focuses first on internal security/counterterrorism and then on external defense. With a budget of 30 billion pesos (roughly equivalent to $585 million) for the first six years, the CUP will upgrade the AFP's command and control, mobility, and firepower, while also improving training through the Battalions of Excellence (BOE) program. The non-commissioned officer corps will be the key element to implementing BOE. -- Financial Controls: An internal audit system will act to check fraud and corruption. -- Defense Acquisition: The newly created Undersecretary for Defense Acquisition will oversee the establishment of a cadre of acquisition specialists, held to high standards of professionalism, accountability, and transparency. -- Strategic Communication: A new cadre of trained professionals will help get the right message out to the public. -- Information Management: A modern information technology backbone will provide support for and help implement PDR. A draft National Defense Act now under consideration by the Philippine Congress would institutionalize PDR policies and principles and help make transformation irreversible. ¶6. (U) Senator Inouye did not have the opportunity to clear on this telegram. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm Jones