No pre-conditions exist in $60-M US aid – Romulo

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo yesterday stressed the United States government did not impose pre-conditions in approving a higher allocation of US$60 million for military and economic aid to the Philippines next year, as he reiterated the Philippine government’s appreciation for the decision of the US  Senate to increase funding assistance to the Philippines.

The US Senate made an almost three-fold increase to Foreign Military Funding (FMF) for the Philippines from the $11 million proposed by the executive department to $30 million. The Senate also increased the Economic Support Fund (ESF) from $26 million to $30 million and urged the executive branch to request for more once there is a peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“There are no pre-conditions to these increased levels of funding,” Romulo said.

According to Romulo, the Senate also provided an additional $2 million contingent outlay, over and above the $30 million FMF. 

But Romulo said the Philippines should implement policies and recommendations to address unexplained killings in order to get an additional $2 million contingent outlay.

“The three requirements for us to be given this additional amount are already part of our overall and comprehensive approach to the issue of politically-motivated killings,” he said.

According to the Senate funding proposal, for the additional $2 million to be given, the US Secretary of State should report that the Philippine government is: implementing the recommendations of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions; implementing a policy of promoting military personnel who demonstrate  professionalism and respect for human rights; investigating and prosecuting military personnel and others who have been credibly alleged to have committed extrajudicial executions or other human rights violations; and that the Philippine military is not engaging in acts of intimidation or violence against members of legal organizations who advocate for human rights.

“Many of the recommendations that have been made so far by Professor (Philip) Alston are already part of the measures we have adopted. Military promotions are subject to extreme scrutiny – including from the Commission of Human Rights to the Commission on Appointments, and investigations and prosecutions are being undertaken when there is credible evidence. The Melo Commission and the UN Special Rapporteur have acknowledged that rogue elements, and not the entire Philippine military, are involved,” Romulo said.

He stressed that US assistance has helped the Philippines on many fronts and has made cooperation and partnership stronger over the years.

“This is funding that has been central to uprooting terrorism by bringing in basic infrastructure, healthcare and education to affected areas,” he said.

Romulo is in New York where he formally expressed the appreciation of the Philippine government to the US government for the increased funding assistance included in the US budget that will soon be taken up in the Conference Committee for finalization. – With Jaime Laude, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Christina Mendez, Paolo Romero, AP