US hands off on RP affairs

The United States is keeping its hands off the leadership crisis now raging in the Philippines, a US Embassy official said.

US charge d’affaires Mike Malinowski reiterated Washington’s policy of "non-interference in the purely internal affairs" of other countries.

"These are purely domestic matters which we believe can be capably handled by your government. We believe that the Filipino people would strictly follow your own democratic principles and constitutional processes," Malinowski told The STAR after a closed-door meeting with President Estrada.

Mr. Estrada invited Malinowski to a "private meeting" at Malacañang Friday night, according to a Palace official who refused to be identified.

Malinowski denied rumors that he delivered a letter from US President Bill Clinton, who reportedly expressed concern over the political instability in the Philippines wrought by the scandal – Mr. Estrada’s most serious crisis in his nearly 29 months in office.

However, Malinowski admitted to the STAR that he and the President discussed the latest political turmoil to hit the country which, he said, appeared to be reaching "crisis" proportions due to the widespread clamor for Mr. Estrada’s resignation.

According to the Malacañang official who requested anonymity, Malinowski also assured Mr. Estrada that Washington would not be drawn into attempts by Filipino opposition politicians to send signals of US pressure on Mr. Estrada, urging him to step down.

Malacañang was surprised and suspicious over the huge number of foreign embassy officials who welcomed Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo when she arrived home from a foreign trip last week.

Upon her arrival, Arroyo announced in a press conference that she would unify opposition against Mr. Estrada. Among the various embassy officials present was US Embassy spokesman Tom Skipper, who said the presence of embassy officials there was "routine."

Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon Jr. earlier claimed that the political opposition has been calling on foreign embassies, campaigning against Mr. Estrada.

Siazon refused to identify the opposition politicians.

Despite Washington’s avowed policy of non-interference in other countries’ affairs, many Filipinos believe US influence in Philippine policy remains strong.

In February 1986, dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who was facing massive protests, decided to step down only after Washington told him by telephone that it would no longer support him. Marcos was ousted in a popular uprising triggered by a military mutiny.

In December 1989, the US sent fighter planes to quell a coup attempt against Marcos’ successor, Corazon Aquino, by disgruntled military officers led by then cashiered Army colonel, Gregorio Honasan, now a senator. — Marichu Villenueva