Arroyo to US: We’ll pass terror bill

President Arroyo has assured the US government of the passage of an anti-terrorism law to strengthen its own line of defense in the fight against the global menace.

US State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Eric John told a news conference at the US Embassy in Manila yesterday that Mrs. Arroyo made the commitment to pass an anti-terrorism bill soon.

John added Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo also made the commitment during separate discussions.

"We hope to see the anti-terrorism legislation passed by the Philippine government. Malacañang and the DFA indicated optimism (it will be passed) by the end of the year. This is something new that came out today," John said.

Asked what provisions Washington wanted to see incorporated in the Philippine anti-terror bill, John replied they had yet to read the draft version.

"We do not have the draft legislation. I would rather withhold comment until we see the draft," he said.

US Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires Paul Jones said the US government merely wants to see to it that Philippine law enforcement agencies are fully equipped with the tools to confront the challenges of terrorism.

"Our interest here is (for) law enforcement to have the tools to confront the challenges today. But how those tools are crafted is completely (up to) the Philippine side," Jones said.

John, who is scheduled to fly back to the US today following a three-day visit, said the agenda of his visit to Manila is focused on talks with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on substantive issues concerning the two allies.

The bilateral agenda was dominated by discussion on the Philippine Defense Reform Program, law enforcement cooperation, Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), counterterrorism programs and initiatives, trade investment framework agreement and trafficking of persons.

John announced that Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz has been invited by US Defense Minister Donald Rumsfeld to visit Washington next month to work out the details of the Philippine Defense Reform Program (PDRP).

The PDRP seeks to provide a systematic, transparent and better allocation of scarce resources of the defense department.

While the accusations of rape against six US Marines were also taken up during the meeting, John stressed the issue was for the US Embassy to handle.

"The Marines issue is handled by our US Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires Paul Jones for the US government so those talks are handled by (him)," he said.

Jones defended the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between Washington and Manila after six US servicemen participating on a military exercise here were accused of raping a 22-year-old Filipina.

Jones said the VFA provides a very important framework for mutually beneficial exercises for the Philippine and US military.