US Embassy defends Hubbard on Jimenez extradition

US Ambassador Thomas Hubbard acted properly when he spoke about Washington's stand on the Supreme Court's decision on the extradition case of former presidential adviser Mark Jimenez, a US Embassy official said yesterday.

US Press Attaché Tom Skipper told The STAR Hubbard merely presented the US view that the Jimenez case might affect bilateral relations between the Philippines and the US.

It is normal diplomatic practice for an ambassador to speak for his country, he added.

Earlier, House Assistant Majority Leader Aniceto Saludo Jr. said Hubbard should be declared persona non grata and ordered to leave the country after Hubbard commented against the Supreme Court's decision allowing Jimenez to get a copy of the US extradition request.

He said Hubbard should be held liable for his action because no ambassador of any country, even the US ambassador, is above the Constitution.

In a one-page letter to Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon Jr. recently, Hubbard warned the US government would abrogate the extradition treaty with the Philippines if the Supreme Court makes final its decision to allow Jimenez to get copies of the US extradition request and other pieces of evidence.

The US government strongly objects to the Supreme Court ruling requiring that Jimenez be given documents that could be used in his prosecution.

However, Saludo said the US stand violates the constitutional right of a Filipino to be informed of the charges against him.