AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH DEFENSE SECRETARY TEODORO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 000167 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2018 TAGS: MARR MASS MCAP PREL RP SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH DEFENSE SECRETARY TEODORO Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: In a January 14 private breakfast with the Ambassador, Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro voiced his confidence in the Philippine government's efforts against Muslim terrorist groups and communist insurgents, the military's reform program, and the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the southern Philippines. Teodoro emphasized that although all these issues were complex and expensive, the dividends they will pay will more than justify the cost. He dismissed recent rumors of destabilization plots against the government as nothing more than disjointed attacks on President Arroyo, who he believes will remain in office through the end of her term in 2010. On U.S.-Philippine military cooperation, Teodoro said he was pleased with the relationship and publicly would stand firmly behind the Visiting Forces Agreement, should controversy about the accord resurface in the coming months. End Summary. -------------- -------------- CONFIDENT MILITARY CAN FIGHT TERROR, QUELL INSURGENCIES -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) The Ambassador offered continued U.S. support for the Philippine government and military, particularly in their efforts against terrorist groups in Mindanao and in support of the peace process and defense reform. Teodoro said he believed the Philippine Armed Forces had to press the fight against all insurgent groups, but that as the government continued to dismantle the New People's Army, a Communist terror organization active throughout the country, it could put even greater focus on Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah terror groups operating in the Sulu Archipelago. Teodoro said the new National Development Support Command would be key in this effort as the front line force in the Philippine government's push to promote civil and humanitarian affairs projects to counter terrorist recruitment. -------------- --- PHILIPPINE DEFENSE REFORM -- THE BUCK STOPS HERE -------------- --- ¶3. (C) Teodoro underscored his commitment to Philippine Defense Reform, saying that he had assumed full responsibility for the program last November because "business as usual was not good enough." Teodoro said that defense reform is a very expensive process up front, but that once the mechanism is in place, it will increase efficiencies, and that if the Philippine government was going to pursue the program, they had to do it right. Teodoro said a key outcome of defense reform will be insulating the decisionmaking process so that competent staff are conducting planning, acquisition, and budgeting activities "without interference from kneejerk or irrational inputs." As a former congressman, Teodoro pointed out that the final output of such a process still has to go through the filter of Congress, which could "enhance or shred it," but that that defense reform is one of his TOP priorities and a program for which the Philippine goverment must shoulder responsibility. -------------- PEACE PROCESS DIFFICULT BUT POSSIBLE -------------- ¶4. (C) Since becoming Secretary of National Defense, Teodoro gradually has increased his involvement in the peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Teodoro told the Ambassador that the issues are difficult, but he believes that the government's proposal to amend the constitution to allow a federal structure could be the key, and such a system must be implemented throughout the Philippines, not just for the future Muslim political entity in Mindanao. Teodoro stated that the problems in the southern Philippines "cannot be solved in a vacuum" and that all regions should be treated the same by the central government. As the peace process moves towards conclusion, Teodoro said he believes there will be a greater need for a higher concentration of military forces in central Mindanao to secure the area, but that the civilian government must be seen as being in control. -------------- COUP RUMORS UNSUBSTANTIATED -------------- MANILA 00000167 002 OF 002 ¶5. (C) Teodoro dismissed the recurring rumors of destabilization plots among the military against the Philippine government as nothing more than disjointed attacks on President Arroyo, who he believes will remain in office through the end of her term in 2010. He attributed the recent press reports of impending unrest as political swipes from a few groups who have chosen not to participate in the legitimate political system, but rather would prefer to try to influence disgruntled individuals to act without broad support. Teodoro commented that he thinks the public is "getting used to the idea of President Arroyo finishing out her term." -------------- STANDING BEHIND THE VISITING FORCES AGREEMENT -------------- ¶6. (C) With the Australian Status of Forces Agreement in the Philippine Senate awaiting debate and a decision pending in the appeal of U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Daniel Smith's rape conviction by a Philippine Court in December 2006, Teodoro raised the likelihood that the U.S.-Philippine Visiting Forces Agreement will come under renewed scrutiny as these two issues move forward. However, Teodoro said, support for U.S. military assistance is strong across the board, and he emphasized that "as a lawyer, I believe when you sign an agreement, you abide by it." Teodoro went on to say that the Ambassador had his personal commitment that he would stand publicly behind the Visiting Forces Agreement in his capacity as Secretary of National Defense, should there be a call in the Philippine government to review it in the coming months. 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