US ambassador vows closer coordination with Palace

MANILA, Philippines – United States Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. has promised closer coordination with Malacañang with regard to travel warnings and other issues, President Aquino disclosed.

The President said he was grateful for the assurance given during a recent meeting with Thomas at the Palace. It was the American ambassador who requested the meeting.

Aquino said in an interview that the meeting was cordial and they talked about a number of things in a very short time.

“We were explaining things to one another. He (Thomas assured us the issuance of) travel advisories would be improved,” Aquino said.

The President said Thomas told him the US had advised several government agencies and offices about the terror warning it issued but “hesitated” to talk to him and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.

“In hindsight, we will make sure that the Palace is the first one to be informed,” the President quoted Thomas as saying.

The President earlier expressed disappointment over the issuance of travel warnings against the Philippines based on raw information and without proper coordination with the government.

He lamented that as allies, travel advisories should not be used to put a country in a bad light but to help it thwart such threats vis-à-vis their responsibilities to their citizens.

The President brought up the matter with the countries that issued the travel warnings and some of them had revised their advisories.

Aquino also raised the matter with US President Barack Obama and other leaders when he attended the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Japan last November.

The President said the US remained one of the country’s top allies even as he ordered a review of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between Manila and Washington to determine what provisions could be modified after 10 years of existence.

However, Aquino said they did not discuss any possible visit yet to the US in 2011, although there were reports he might go there in October.

The President said visits to China and member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are being scheduled for next year.