Posted on 07/22/2004 7:42:30 AM PDT by Ranger
Senator Manuel Villar Jr. on Wednesday said the United States (U.S.) will still regard the Philippines as its ally even as Washington expressed bitterness over Manila's decision to withdraw Filipino troops from Iraq to save the life of a Filipino taken hostage in the war-torn country.
"The Bush administration may be angry at the Philippine government but it cannot ignore the fact that Manila is still its key ally in the war against terrorism," Villar told dzMM.
The Senate's foreign relations committee chairman likened Washington's cooling relations with Manila over the Philippine troops pullout as a "love-hate" affair.
"Well para sigurong magnobyo at mag-nobya 'yan na paminsan-minsan ay nag-aaway pero bumabalik din 'yung tamis ng pagsasama, subalit ito ay hindi tamis ng pagsasama kundi ito ay pangangailangan nila din sa atin (This is like a lover's quarrel...and time will come they will long for each other but this time the relationship will be nurtured by mutual dependancy)," Villar said.
The Phillipines-U.S. relations waned in 1991 after the Philippine Senate voted to shut down all American military bases in the country, but have since been revitalized by the fight against terrorism.
He said the U.S. still considers the Philippines a strategic partner not only in security matters, but also in the economy.
Villar, meanwhile, said the release of Filipino hostage Angelo de la Cruz should prompt the country's foreign policy makers to carve a new and independent foreign policy.
He stressed the government should not always pattern its foreign policy after those other nations.
"The government should always bear in mind that the country has millions of Filipino workers in different parts of the world. It must protect the interests and welfare of our OFWs," he said in a statement.
The senator said foreign affairs officials should initiate moves aimed at improving the country's image and seek ways in improving bilateral relations with countries that have strongly criticized Manila for giving in to the demands of de la Cruz's captors.
He said other nations are concerned with the way the country handled the hostage crisis because terrorists may now target their own troops in Iraq.
The senator likewise called on foreign affairs and labor officials to continue the temporary ban on the deployment of OFWs to Iraq until an improvement in its peace and order situation can be seen.
"There is no guarantee that no Filipino will be taken hostage again, although I think there is a low probability that it will happen," he said.
Villar has consistently opposed the deployment of a Philippine peacekeeping mission in Iraq for fear of a backlash against the large OFW community in the Middle East.
dzMM/abs-cbnNEWS.com
Phil who?
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