US senators get RP wish list from GMA

Aside from increased military aid, President Arroyo asked yesterday two visiting US senators to help in the passage of two other measures that are pending before the US Congress.

The Chief Executive said in a radio interview that she asked US Senators Daniel Inouye (Democrat, Hawaii) and Ted Stevens (Republican, Alaska) to help ensure the passage of the proposed Zero Tariff bill and the World War II Veterans Equity bill.

She said the passage of the Zero Tariff bill would remove "discriminatory tariff barriers" and help Philippine canned tuna, mostly from Mindanao, and other Philippine exports gain more access to US markets.

The Veterans Equity bill, on the other hand, would assist Filipino guerrillas, most of whom are already old, who fought alongside American soldiers during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.

"They are pro-Filipino senators who are pushing for budget assistance to the Philippines," the President said, referring to the additional military aid the US would likely extend to the country over the $100 million pledged by US President George W. Bush during her visit to Washington last November.

"They told me they will make sure that President Bush will comply with the commitments he made when I was there last year," the President reiterated before the Fourth Mindanao Food Congress in Cagayan de Oro yesterday.

She said that of the $2 billion in aid and investment generated by her visit to the US, one-half includes a pledge to extend more US access to Philippine products.

"(The two senators) told me they will take this up with their colleagues in the US Senate when they resume their sessions," she added.

The President hosted a private dinner for the two senators at Malacañang on Tuesday after special briefings by Vice President and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teofisto Guingona and presidential adviser for regional development Paul Dominguez, among other people.

The two senators’ three-day visit was aimed at assessing the ongoing joint RP-US "Balikatan" military exercises, the fight against local terrorists and other aspects of Philippine-American relations.

Inouye is chairman of the US Senate defense appropriations sub-committee while Stevens is an influential member of the committee.

The two senators’ visit preceded the arrival of at least eight more US lawmakers over the coming weeks to assess the assistance the country needs to combat homegrown terrorist groups like the Abu Sayyaf.

Also scheduled to arrive before the end of the month is Adm. Dennis Blair, commander-in-chief of the US Pacific Command.

The eight US congressmen are set to arrive in batches to assess the ongoing war games and determine the additional military aid that would likely be extended to the Philippines.

For his part, Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes said the two senators’ visit would bolster the whole gamut of RP-US relations.

"Their objective is to examine and assess what can be done to enhance our strategic alliance. So we’re not looking at just the money aspect of it," Reyes said.

At the same time, Reyes dismissed the claim of leftist organizations that the senators’ visit was meant to hasten talks to re-establish US military bases in the country, particularly in General Santos City in South Cotabato.

"That’s out of the question. Our Constitution says there can be no foreign bases here. It simply cannot be. Those speculations are unfounded," he said.

Reyes, however, did not mention if he discussed with the senators the proposed Mutual Logistics Support Agreement which is being studied by a three-man Cabinet committee which he heads.

The US has also already submitted a proposed draft of the agreement and the committee, according to an executive order, should already have submitted a counter-proposal.

Aside from Reyes, the committee includes Guingona and Justice Secretary Hernando Perez.