Ricciardone will return to Manila

DAVAO CITY — US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone, who was pulled out of his post early this year, will definitely return to Manila after serving for several months in Iraq.

"He left middle of January and he’s (been) away for about two months already. He would be back after June 30, which is supposed to be the date of the transition of Iraq to civilian government," US Embassy spokeswoman Karen Kelley told reporters in a dialogue Monday night at a local hotel.

But Kelley clarified that Ricciardone might take some time off for a break before he returns to Manila.

"Probably by end of summer (in the US)," she said.

Kelley explained the importance of Ricciardone’s role in the civilian transition of Iraq, especially given US plans to establish a huge diplomatic presence there, expected to be one of the largest US missions in the world.

Ricciardone hurriedly left Manila last January, a move some observers linked to the ongoing political exercises in the country. The US government has been perceived to be supportive of the Arroyo administration after President Arroyo forged close ties with US President George W. Bush, particularly in the war against terror.

"We do not hide our admiration for President Arroyo. We do not keep it a secret. But definitely the ambassador’s leaving last January had nothing to do with your May 10 elections," the US Embassy spokeswoman said.

Kelley stressed that, while the US government is interested in the elections, the US has a "zero as in none" policy on intervention in Philippine politics.

"We do not get involved in Philippine elections. The US involvement is always in the eyes of the beholder," she said.

Ricciardone was quoted in a forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) as saying that the US was only interested in seeing the Philippines become a strong democracy.

"Elections in the Philippines are always a matter of who the Filipinos want or choose. We are interested in the outcome of the elections because we want Philippine democracy to succeed," he said.