Supporting Iraq war earned RP prestige — Palace

Being a major ally of the United States has elevated the Philippines’ importance and prestige as a country, aside from netting billions of dollars worth of investment agreements, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential Chief of Staff Rigoberto Tiglao said President Arroyo’s support for the US-led war on Iraq did more good than harm to the country. He dismissed speculations that the Philippines will soon pay the price for being a major US ally, due to the threat of global terrorism.

"We are given another level of prestige and importance, which means that in our relations (with) other countries mas kikilalanin pa tayo (we will be given more regard)," Tiglao told NBN’s Ugnayang Pambansa Thursday night.

The President’s state visit was highlighted by a lavish state dinner given in her honor by US President George W. Bush, and his declaration that the Philippines will be designated as a major non-NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) ally.

Another highlight of her state visit is her announcement that the Philippines will receive $3.2 billion worth of investment agreements with the US.

Tiglao said the investment agreements were not only in the form of military aid, but also in trade concessions as well as those that will benefit the country’s science and technology sector as well as provide socio-economic development.

Being named as a major non-NATO ally, or having an expanded military relationship with the US, he said, was a sign that the Philippines is "regarded as very important in this world dominated by one superpower."

Tiglao said this development in RP-US relations was even better than when America had their military bases in the country.

He noted that the Philippines only received an annual aid of about $200 million from the US when their bases were still occupying Clark Field and Subic in Pampanga. Investment agreements that are related to trade and military assistance now amount to around $300 to $400 million, he said.

"What is most important is that the President did not only work for military aid. It was a holistic approach really," Tiglao said.

Meanwhile, presidential adviser on the peace process Eduardo Ermita said US aid for the economic development of Mindanao could pave the way for the resumption of the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) but noted that it would still depend "on how the other side sees this" kind of assistance.

The US has provided a $30-million dividend for the development of conflict areas in the war-torn region. Washington has also offered to act as peace broker between the government and the MILF.

Despite welcoming Bush’s support to the peace process, the MILF stressed that Malaysia should mediate in negotiations, not the US.