SCENESETTER FOR ADMIRAL WILLARD'S VISIT TO THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 MANILA 001443 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MTS USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP FOR TOLAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2018 TAGS: MARR MOPS PINS PREL PTER RP SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR ADMIRAL WILLARD'S VISIT TO THE PHILIPPINES Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Admiral Willard, welcome back to the Philippines! President Arroyo maintains her strong political position, in part due to positive economic growth. The Philippine Armed Forces continue to score successes against terrorists in the southern Philippines, while supporting the Philippine government's efforts to make peace with Muslim insurgents. Philippine Defense Secretary Teodoro has taken active control of defense reform, with positive results. On May 12, 2008, General Alexander Yano became the 38th Chief of Staff of the Philippine Armed Services. During your visit you will have lunch with the Ambassador, be briefed by the Mission Country Team, and meet Philippine Armed Forces Vice Chief of Staff General Cardoza Luna and the Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command ADM Rogelio Calunsag. END SUMMARY. -------------- MILITARY ENGAGEMENT -------------- ¶2. (C) As you know, the total number of yearly ships visits has significantly increased -- from 56 in 2006 to 81 in 2007 -- and we anticipate in excess of 100 ship visits this year. The positive impact of these ship visits and the associated community relations activities on the ports and neighboring areas garner immense goodwill among the local populace. Prior to your arrival, the USNS MERCY made a highly successful humanitarian visit to the Philippines from May 29 to June 17. In preparation for the USNS MERCY visit, the Mission worked seamlessly over the past several months with PACOM personnel and engaged with various Philippine ministries, provincial officials, and local leaders to ensure a successful and productive visit. In addition, the Ambassador and DCM traveled to areas in Mindanao to participate in various MERCY sponsored events. During her visit, the USNS MERCY treated more than 26,000 patients and performed almost 400 surgeries. -------------- PHILIPPINE POLITICS -------------- ¶3. (C) The Philippine political environment is chronically unsettled, but President Arroyo's administration has successfully weathered several scandals. Arroyo retains a firm grip on the House of Representatives and can also rely on the support of a large majority of provincial governors and local mayors. Her relationship with top security officials likewise remains strong, and military and police personnel have largely kept out of political debates and stayed focused on their security roles. While there have been some demonstrations, there has yet to be any mass support for regime change along the lines of Philippine "people power" movements of the past and President Arroyo remains poised to finish her term in 2010. -------------- ECONOMICS AND TRADE -------------- ¶4. (C) Philippine GDP grew by 7.3% in 2007, the fastest pace of growth in over three decades. Growth was fueled by increased government and rivate construction expenditures, a robust inforation communications technology industry; improvd agricultural harvests; and strong private consmption, spurred in part by $14.4 billion in remittaces from overseas workers (equivalent to about 11% of GDP). GDP growth is expected to slow in 2008, but still reach between 5-6%. The main engine of growth will be private consumption. President Arroyo has an impressive reform agenda -- privatize the electric power sector, build infrastructure, increase education funding, and reduce business red tape -- but still faces significant hurdles, particularly in improving the investment climate. The U.S. remains the Philippines' largest trading partner, with over $17.1 billion in two-way merchandise trade in 2007. -------------- -------------- MANILA 00001443 002 OF 003 MINDANAO: SECURITY, THE PEACE PROCESS, AND COUNTER TERRORISM -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) Military and law enforcement forces continue to achieve important successes in the counterterrorism efforts, which have resulted in the death or capture of eight key terrorist leaders and over 200 other terrorism suspects since August 2006, including the deaths of Abu Sayyaf Group leaders Khadaffy Janjalani and Abu Solaiman. Recently, Philippine Forces mounted a surgical strike against a known terrorist camp in Jolo that had served as a safe haven for Abu Sayyaf Group and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) members for almost two years. Philippine forces also scored a confirmed hit against JI when they arrested the bomb maker Latif in Mindanao in February. ¶6. (C) While the Arroyo administration frequently reiterates its commitment to the peace process, and a ceasefire seems to be holding in most conflict-affected areas, negotiations have been stalled since December for an agreement on territory, governance, and resources. President Arroyo's cabinet continues to seek a workable constitutional formula for incorporation of these issues into a territorial agreement; some cabinet members fear that signing an agreement not bounded by the constitution might risk impeachment proceedings against Arroyo. Muslim insurgents in the southern Philippines will not consider demobilizing and disarming until a permanent peace agreement is in place. ¶7. (C) Lack of progress in the peace process has implications for U.S. counterterrorism strategy in the region, which focuses on separating the small numbers of terrorists primarily associated with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) from other Muslim insurgents in the southern Philippines who seek only autonomy from Manila. Thirty-nine years after its founding as the armed wing of the Philippine Communist Party, the 5,000-strong New People's Army (NPA) continues to disrupt public security and business operations with frequent strikes throughout the Philippines on foreign investments and communications and transportation infrastructure, funding their operations through broad-scale extortion rings. The NPA has declined President Arroyo's broad amnesty overtures, refusing to negotiate unless and until its international designation as a terrorist organization is rescinded. -------------- PHILIPPINE DEFENSE REFORM -------------- ¶8. (C) In an encouraging sign of deepening support for the ongoing armed forces overhaul, Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro took personal control of Philippine Defense Reform last November, and the Philippine government plans to spend about USD 100 million annually through 2012 to fund defense reform initiatives. To date, the Philippines has spent over $400 million on defense reform, including $28 million to match U.S. foreign military financing. Teodoro is personally involved in the process down to the working level, and is currently putting his own personnel into key positions of authority. -------------- UNLAWFUL/EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS -------------- ¶9. (C) Extrajudicial killings remain one of the thorniest issues for the Arroyo administration, with critics charging that rogue elements of the Philippine police and military are responsible for the killings. President Arroyo has spoken out consistently and strongly on the issue and has taken a variety of steps to address the problem, such as the creation of -- or strengthening of existing -- government task forces and commissions. By the end of 2007, these steps, as well as intensified domestic and international attention to the problem, appeared to have had a measurable impact, with government agencies and human rights NGOs reporting a significant decline in the number of extrajudicial killings during the year. The Embassy carefully vets all proposed military and law enforcement personnel about to receive U.S.-funded training both internally and with relevant MANILA 00001443 003 OF 003 Philippine authorities to comply with the terms of the Leahy Amendments. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/ KENNEY