FOREIGN SECRETARY AND NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 004325 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP AND EAP/MTS USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP (LAWLESS/TOOLAN/BAILEY) JOINT STAFF/J5 (WILKES/ROBINSON/CLEMMONS) E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2016 TAGS: PREL PINS PTER MOPS MY RP SUBJECT: FOREIGN SECRETARY AND NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT PEACE PROCESS; PRAISE U.S. COUNTERTERRORISM ASSISTANCE REF: A. MANILA 4303 ¶B. KUALA LUMPUR 1812 Classified By: (U) Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Foreign Secretary Romulo and National Security Advisor Gonzales in an October 11 meeting with Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission expressed cautious optimism about peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Romulo said Malaysia clearly wanted to help and was playing a productive role in the negotiations. He noted that the recent warm meeting between President Arroyo and Prime Minister Badawi on the margins of the Helsinki Asia-Europe Summit had underscored the depth and consistency of Malaysian commitment to facilitating the talks. Romulo and Gonzales, however, expressed some candid frustrations with Malaysian facilitator Othman Abdul Razak. Othman's criticism of Philippine government positions during the latest round of talks had encouraged the MILF to ratchet up its rhetoric. Romulo hastened to re-emphasize Philippine appreciation for Malaysia's role, noting that he was weighing how best to raise the delicate subject of Othman with his counterparts. ¶2. (C) Noting the current difficulties over land rights, Romulo asked whether the United States would consider becoming more actively involved in the negotiations. The Ambassador said the U.S. stood ready to play any role that might be useful, and noted our ongoing contacts with both GRP and MILF officials involved in the peace process. She emphasized that peace was in our interest as well as the Philippines. Romulo said he had no concrete ideas for a more active USG role, but wanted to continue discussing it. ¶3. (C) National Security Advisor Gonzales noted that the October 10-11 bomb attacks in Mindanao appeared to be the work of recent graduates of a MILF bombing course. A peace deal would help stop the inflow of foreign terrorist trainers and weapons fueling the conflict, he said. Gonzales observed that the Philippines needed to work better with Malaysia and Indonesia on controlling their vulnerable maritime borders. Both Romulo and Gonzales praised U.S. assistance to the ongoing Armed Forces of the Philippines operation to capture or kill senior Abu Sayyaf Group and Jemaah Islamiyah terrorists on the island of Jolo. "We want to be seen as standing together with the United States in this fight (against terrorism)," Romulo said. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm KENNEY