Australian PM Howard to visit RP, forge agreement on counter terrorism

Australian Prime Minister John Howard will visit Manila next week to meet with President Arroyo to discuss ways of improving relations between the two countries and to forge a stronger front against terrorism and transnational crime.

It is not clear whether the talks will include fugitive businessman Dante Tan’s controversial escape to Australia. Tan is wanted for the biggest stock exchange manipulation ever to happen in the Philippines.

Howard’s three-day visit to the country is the first leg of his Asian trip, which will also take him to Tokyo, Japan and Seoul, South Korea, according to Australian Ambassador Ruth Pierce.

"The Prime Minister has not been to the Philippines and he has made some communications with President Arroyo in various meetings," Pierce told The STAR.

She added that Howard has always spoken about the need for Australia to reciprocate the visit made by then President Fidel Ramos in 1995.

"It reflects our very strong relationship with the region, with the Philippines, and the need to be constantly engaged with the region," Pierce said.

Howard is expected to arrive on July 13 and proceed to Tokyo on the 15th.

In a speech before a prestigious think tank on Monday, Howard outlined Australia’s foreign policy in the "age of terrorism," according to Pierce.

She said that according to Howard, bilateral relations have become "more and more important" in dealing with terrorist threats and issues related to globalization.

Howard had said that building coalitions is one of the most effective ways governments can counter the destructive forces of international terrorism and transnational crime.

"The government will always give maximum attention to keeping relationships vibrant and strong," he said.

Howard said the purpose of his visit is to hold talks with Japan, Korea and the Philippines on regional trade and economic issues.

"Counter-terrorism responses and North Korea’s nuclear policies will be high on our agenda," he said.

Pierce said Howard would also discuss ways to strengthen the cooperation between Canberra and Manila to fight international terrorism, which has claimed the lives of hundreds of Filipinos and Australians.

She said there are moves to deepen and enhance existing cooperation agreements, particularly the memorandum of understanding on combating international terrorism, signed last March by Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople and his Australian counterpart Alexander Downer.

Enhancing cooperation against terrorism "would be discussed and we hope there would be some building further on some existing cooperation arrangements and we hope to be able to agree on some practical outcomes," Pierce said.

She added that the Australian government is planning to help Philippine law enforcement agencies improve their investigative and forensic capabilities.

The Australian government previously sent investigators to help local authorities after the series of bombings in Davao and build up intelligence on the link between the bombings in Davao and Bali, Indonesia, which killed and injured scores of Australian tourists in 2002.

While a source at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) believes that Tan’s escape to Australia is "relevant," he is "not sure if the Dante Tan issue will be discussed" between Mrs. Arroyo and the Australian prime minister.

The source, however, said Australian authorities are less worried about Filipino illegal immigrants than foreigners using the country as a jump-off point into Australia.

"What they want is intelligence information sharing and other coordinations," the source said.

Tan arrived in Australia on March 10, 2001, though there was supposed to be a hold order issued against him as early as Feb. 14, 2001. His arrival in Australia remained unknown to Philippine authorities until he figured in a campaign contribution controversy involving an Australian politician.

Tan was said to have arrived in Australia on board a Royal Brunei flight, but investigators are still trying to determine how he left the country undetected. – Paolo Romero, Jose Aravilla