ADMIRAL WILLARD'S VISIT ENHANCES U.S.-PHILIPPINE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 000611 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019 TAGS: MARR MOPS PINS PREL RP SUBJECT: ADMIRAL WILLARD'S VISIT ENHANCES U.S.-PHILIPPINE MILITARY TIES REF: A. MANILA 563: BRUTAL MURDER INVESTIGATED AS EJK ¶B. MANILA 549: PREPARATIONS FOR BK'09 ON-TRACK Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney; for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: During his four-day visit to the Philippines March 11-14, Commander of the Pacific Fleet, Admiral Robert Willard, accompanied by the Ambassador, met with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro and Philippine Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Alexander Yano and discussed topics ranging from human rights to strengthening the U.S.-Philippine military relationship. Admiral Willard and the Ambassador highlighted the importance of our continued military to military relationship and reemphasized the need for the Philippine military to respect human rights. Both Secretary Teodoro and General Yano agreed for the need to continue and strengthen our bilateral military engagement and adamantly expressed their horror over the kidnapping and murder of the daughter of a New People's Army insurgent leader earlier this month (REF A). Admiral Willard also discussed up-coming bilateral military exercises and complimented the Philippines on their continued successes against terrorist groups operating in the southern Philippines. Teodoro echoed these topics, thanking Admiral Willard and the Ambassador for continued USG support against these terrorist groups, and stressing that continued USG support for the Coast Watch South initiative was vital to combating the twin scourges of transnational crime and terrorism. Teodoro also commented that the Philippines must honor the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and that the Arroyo Administration was committed to meeting their bilateral obligations. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Robert Willard visited the Philippines March 11-14 and joined the Ambassador to meet with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro and Philippine Armed Forces Chief Staff General Alexander Yano. Admiral Willard and the Ambassador spoke about the continued strong ties of our military to military relationship, highlighting the upcoming Balikatan and Combined Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) bilateral military exercises. Yano agreed with the need for such continued bilateral military exercises and subject matter exchanges, but aired his frustration at Philippine fringe elements who have waged a noisy propaganda campaign against this year's Balikatan exercise scheduled for April (REF B). UNDERSCORING HUMAN RIGHTS -------------- ¶3. (C) Admiral Willard and the Ambassador were frank in their emphasis that the Philippine military must respect human rights. The Ambassador emphasized the importance of ensuring that Philippine security forces not tolerate or condone extrajudicial killings. She urged Secretary Teodoro and General Yano to ensure the military understands that respect for human rights is indicative of a disciplined and well-trained military. Responding to this theme, both Teodoro and Yano clearly expressed their revulsion over the kidnapping and brutal murder of the daughter of New People's Army insurgent leader last month (REF A),a crime for which the NPA has blamed the Philippine military. Yano said that the military would cooperate fully with the investigation, although Teodoro cautioned that since the military has been accused of participating in this crime, they cannot lead the investigation. FINISH THE FIGHT AGAINST TERROR -------------- ¶4. (C) Complimenting them on their ongoing success against terrorist groups hiding in the southern Philippines, Admiral Willard assured Secretary Teodoro and General Yano of the USG's continued support. Teodoro expressed his appreciation to Admiral Willard and the Ambassador for U.S. cooperation and hoped that the U.S. would help them "finish the fight" against terrorists, particularly in Jolo area of southern Philippines. Continuing with this topic, Teodoro expressed frustration with the military's "small budget to deal with huge needs," saying that he thought the situation in Mindanao would only be resolved when an increased number of troops were deployed to the region. Commenting on the Philippine military's need for a larger special forces capability, Teodoro admitted that despite their past proclivity toward "adventurism" -- a reference to past participation by members of Philippine special forces in attempted coups against the MANILA 00000611 002 OF 002 government -- increased numbers of special forces troops are needed. FLESHING OUT COAST WATCH SOUTH -------------- ¶5. (C) Referring to Coast Watch South, the Philippine integrated maritime security program, as "a skeleton that needed meat," Secretary Teodoro thanked Admiral Willard and the Ambassador for continued USG support. Describing Coast Watch South as vital to combating both transnational crime and terrorism, Teodoro confirmed his intention to make this command more effective and less bureaucratic by reducing the numbers of agency representatives with decisionmaking authority and giving greater responsibility to the Philippine Navy. HONORING THE VFA -------------- ¶6. (C) With regards to the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), Secretary Teodoro firmly stated that the Philippines must honor the VFA and meet its bilateral obligations. He candidly admitted that the Philippines needs to develop and implement a proactive public affairs campaign that highlights the benefits of the VFA to the Philippines. Teodoro told the Ambassador that the Philippine government would honor it obligations under the VFA to avoid problems in future negotiations with other countries. Reflecting on the high number of U.S. military officers who have recently visited the Philippines, Teodoro suggested to the Ambassador that it would be beneficial for both countries if U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates could visit the Philippines in the near future. ¶7. (C) Accompanied by the Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command, Admiral Ferdinand Golez, Admiral Willard concluded his visit to the Philippines with a trip to Zamboanga, where he met with senior Philippine military officers from Western Mindanao Command, participated in an equipment turn-over ceremony, attended a USAID sponsored book distribution event, and received a briefing from the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines. ¶8. (C) COMMENT: Admiral Willard's visit did much to strengthen our relationship with the Philippines, as his meetings with senior Philippine defense and military officials reinforced our bilateral partnership. Senior Philippine officials were keenly aware of Admiral Willard's role as Pacific Fleet Commander, as such, his meetings were substantive and covered a wide range of topics. While Admiral Willard and the Ambassador used their meetings to clearly convey USG thinking on key issues, they also provided senior Philippine officials the opportunity for further discussions about sensitive issues vital to the continued U.S.-Philippine partnership. END COMMENT. ¶9. (U) Admiral Willard did not clear this cable prior to his departure. KENNEY