PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT POSITIVE ON POSSIBLE

UNCLAS MANILA 002292 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR L/LEI (J LANDSIDLE) AND PM/PPA (D FORAN) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KJUS SO RP SUBJECT: PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT POSITIVE ON POSSIBLE PROSECUTION OF PIRATES REF: STATE 102982 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Post delivered Reftel demarche on possible Philippine government prosecution of pirates and received a very positive response from the Philippine Secretary of Justice. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) On October 28, Embassy Manila Legal Attache and Political/External Chief met with Secretary of Justice Agnes Devanadera to deliver Reftel demarche on prosecution of pirates. EMBOFFs noted that, were prosecutions to go forward, the Philippines would decide which cases to accept and that there was a reasonable likelihood that donor funds would be available to help offset the costs of the effort. Devanadera was fully supportive and enthusiastic about the idea and said that she planned to create a task force to handle the issue. ¶3. (U) Post will continue to liaise with L/LEI and other offices to determine next steps. ¶4. (SBU) COMMENT: The fact that so many Philippine seamen have been held hostage by pirates is the key factor motivating the Justice Secretary's positive response. We do caution that this was the first approach to the government, and that the Department of Foreign Affairs and other agencies have yet to express their views. Nevertheless, this initial reply by Secretary Devanadera was highly positive overall. KENNEY