VZCZCXRO7933
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #0646/01 0830915
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O 240915Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3622
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 000646 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MTS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2019 
TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM PREL BEXP VA RP
SUBJECT: FOREIGN SECRETARY ON HUMAN RIGHTS, PEACE PROCESS, 
RED CROSS HOSTAGES 
 
REF: A. MANILA 630 (RED CROSS HEAD CONCERNED FOR HOSTAGES) 
     ¶B. MANILA 611 (ADM WILLARD VISIT STRENGTHENS TIES) 
     ¶C. MANILA 563 (BRUTAL MURDER INVESTIGATED AS EJK) 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
 
¶1. (C)  SUMMARY: In a broadranging discussion March 24, the 
Ambassador urged Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs 
Alberto Romulo to ensure the safety of two high-profile 
murder suspects if they are extradited from the U.S., and 
reiterated the need for continued improvement in Philippine 
human rights practices.  Romulo stressed the Philippine 
government was committed to continuing to improve human 
rights and a "culture change" on human rights was at hand. 
The Foreign Secretary said that, contrary to media reports, 
former UK PM Tony Blair would not be actively involved in the 
Mindanao peace process, and lamented that negotiations for 
three International Red Cross workers kidnapped by the Abu 
Sayyaf Group in Mindanao were in disarray. END SUMMARY. 
 
ASSURANCES ON HIGH-PROFILE EXTRADITION 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C)  In a March 24 tour d'horizon with Department of 
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, the Ambassador 
emphasized the need for the Philippine government to respect 
the human rights of two former Philippine police officials 
implicated in a nine-year-old murder case and whose 
extraditions from the U.S. are still pending.  The Ambassador 
noted our continuing bilateral law enforcement cooperation 
and reiterated the importance, given the many interests 
involved, of making sure that the two men will be treated in 
accordance with the very highest human rights standards upon 
their return to the Philippines.  Stressing that the 
government wanted the extraditions to proceed quickly, Romulo 
assured the Ambassador that the human rights and safety of 
former police superintendents Glenn Dumlao and Cezar Mancao 
would be fully respected. 
 
SEEKING TO IMPROVE HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C)  Turning to human rights more generally, Romulo 
acknowledged that the Philippine government was committed to 
continuing to improve human rights standards and that a 
"culture change" in the government on perceptions of human 
rights was at hand, as illustrated by high-level statements 
uniformly condemning the recent murder of Rebelyn Pitao (Ref 
C), daughter of a terrorist New People's Army commander. 
Romulo said that the Philippine government wanted to do 
everything possible to investigate this killing.  He thanked 
the Ambassador for the proactive U.S. role in working with 
the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine 
National Police (PNP).  Still, Romulo admitted that the 
Philippine government felt "picked on" for its human rights 
problems, which, he said, paled in comparison to problems in 
other Southeast Asia countries like Burma.  The government 
appreciated the collaborative approach of U.S. human rights 
programs in the Philippines, which he felt were more 
effective than public criticism in achieving positive change. 
 
 
¶4. (C) The Ambassador noted that she was personally meeting 
with human rights groups to hear their concerns and ideas. 
The U.S. holds the Philippines to higher human rights 
standards, the Ambassador said, because the Philippines is an 
open democracy with strong ties to the U.S.  The U.S. demands 
more from the Philippines because, the Ambassador said, we 
know the Philippines is capable of achieving more. 
 
RED CROSS KIDNAPPING "A MESS" 
----------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C)  Turning to the three International Committee of the 
Red Cross (ICRC) hostages kidnapped in January by the 
terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sulu (Ref A), Romulo 
described the situation as a "mess" and lamented that Senator 
and Philippine Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon's 
involvement in the matter was unhelpful.  AFP Chief of Staff 
Yano, on the other hand, continued to show exemplary 
leadership skills "across the board."  Romulo speculated that 
AFP Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit, Chief of the AFP Southern 
Command, would be a good candidate to lead the AFP after 
Yano's retirement in June, but said that Bangit was not "a 
standout" leader like Yano. 
 
 
MANILA 00000646  002 OF 002 
 
 
TONY BLAIR AND PEACE PROCESS 
---------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C)  Secretary Romulo described former UK Prime Minister 
Tony Blair's visit this week to the Philippines, 
acknowledging the usefulness of his positive messages on the 
Mindanao peace process.  Despite widespread media reports 
that Blair would take an active part in the peace process, 
Romulo noted that Blair was not specifically asked to play a 
role in Mindanao because, as President Arroyo had indicated, 
the Malaysians were the official facilitator for the peace 
talks, and other third parties could not be brought into the 
process without their concurrence. 
 
¶7. (C)  Secretary Romulo noted that the Philippines continued 
to seek observer status at the Organisation of the Islamic 
Conference (OIC), and that at present only two countries 
objected to such status -- Morocco and Pakistan.  Romulo 
indicated that he may travel to those countries soon to press 
for their support. 
 
BURMA "IMPERIVOUS TO PRESSURE" 
------------------------------ 
 
¶8. (C)  On Burma, Secretary Romulo expressed frustration at 
the lack of movement on addressing human rights issues there, 
and said that the Burmese appeared nearly impervious to 
outside pressure.  He noted that Thailand had scheduled the 
series of ASEAN summits for the Easter holiday week -- not 
ideal for the Philippines, but the Philippine delegation 
would nonetheless take part in order to press for continued 
progress on key issues, including ASEAN's human rights 
mechanism. 
 
ADMIRAL WILLARD'S VISIT 
----------------------- 
 
¶9. (C)  The Ambassador briefed Secretary Romulo on the recent 
visit of Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Robert Willard (Ref 
B), whose meetings in the Philippines with AFP Chief of Staff 
Alexander Yano and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro 
underscored the importance and the success of bilateral 
cooperation on counterterrorism and other issues. 
 
VETERANS' BENEFIT 
----------------- 
 
¶10. (C)  Touching on the recently inaugurated program to 
compensate WWII Filipino veterans who fought alongside U.S. 
troops, the Ambassador explained to Secretary Romulo that the 
Manila office the U.S. Veterans Administration hoped to 
release checks to Filipino veterans in late April or early 
May, and that all claimants would receive a letter indicating 
either approval or denial of their claims.  The Ambassador 
noted that some claims would be denied, and that we could 
expect some negative press when that happened.  Romulo voiced 
gratitude for the new benefit, and said he understood the 
situation. 
KENNEY