US intel chief briefed on RP political situation

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo met over the weekend with United States Director for National Intelligence John Negroponte to brief the latter on the current political situation in the Philippines.

Romulo left last Thursday for Washington to meet with Negroponte, then proceeded to New York to attend a United Nations Security Council meeting on Syria yesterday. Romulo has a daughter currently residing in Washington.

The meeting followed reports about the US government’s spying activities on Philippine officials and the documents on destabilization moves against the government that were leaked to the media.

Romulo and Negroponte "noted the continuing success of Philippine reform and counter-terrorism efforts. Secretary Romulo briefed Negroponte on the recent developments in the Philippines, as well as recent Philippine gains in fiscal reforms, its economy, the peace process, reconciliation and political and constitutional reform," an official statement from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

The DFA statement said Negroponte, a former ambassador to the Philippines, "expressed support for the democratic leadership of President Arroyo." — Pia Lee-Brago, Paolo Romero