Is change coming to US-Philippine relations under Aquino?
US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas Jr. immediately congratulated President-elect Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” C. Aquino Jr. and Vice President-elect Jejomar “Jojo” C. Binay upon their proclamation today by a joint session of Congress.
The US is known to maintain economic, political, military and diplomatic interests in the Philippines, a former US colony.
Congratulating Aquino and Binay on their election victories, Thomas affirmed — in a statement released shortly after the proclamation ceremonies — what he described as “a long and deep relationship with the Philippines, a treaty ally whose soldiers have fought alongside ours in World War II and subsequent conflicts.”
“We look forward to working with the new Philippine government to deepen the unwavering friendship and partnership between our two nations, and to advance our common goals for the benefit of the Southeast Asia region and the world,” said Thomas, who recently assumed the post as top US diplomat in the Philippines.
Thomas earlier led the procession of foreign ambassadors who have congratulated Aquino ahead of the congressional canvass and proclamation.
Thomas also said that the US and the Philippines “share common values and common goals designed to make our world more secure and more prosperous”.
“We cooperate closely on regional security, counterterrorism, and in combating transnational crime, including the scourge of trafficking in persons. Our two governments work together to open markets, protect intellectual property rights, fight corruption, and encourage economic growth and development,” he added.
An undetermined number of US soldiers are currently stationed in parts of Mindanao where they are officially providing assistance to Philippine counterparts in operations against local bandits with purported links to Al Qaeda.
In his three-year stint in the Senate, Aquino were among the senators who have voiced support to calls for the review of the Visiting Forces Agreement which govern the entry and conduct of US military presence in the Philippines.
The US Congress, through committtees and senior members of both the US Senate and the US House of Representatives, has deplored human rights violations that marked the regime of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
The US Congress has attached human rights preconditions to ertain portions of US military aid to the Philippines, including a stop to and investigation of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances documented by national and international organizations and by the United Nations special rapporteur on political killings.
[...] US President Barack Obama has not called on Aquino, the American embassy in Manila swiftly released a statement congratulating Aquino on his proclamation as president-elect, as well as Jejomar "Jojo" C. Binay, the vice [...]