Philippines-US ties 'never been better'

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines' Ambassador to the United States believes that the long-time allies have had the best of ties the past year amid an ongoing case on the suspected killing of a Filipino by a US Marine.

"Our relations with the United States have never been better," Ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr. said in a statement Friday as quoted from his remarks in a reception for journalists in Washington.

Cuisia cited the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the signing of which was witnessed by American President Barack Obama during his state visit in Manila last year.

A Supreme Court decision on EDCA, however, is still pending to be released after several petitions from left-leaning groups questioning its constitutionality.

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Cuisia also mentioned the restoration of the Philippines' Category I aviation safety rating, the removal from the Special 301 Watch List of countries with serious intellectual property rights issues as achievements in 2014.

"As a result of the FAA aviation safety upgrade, Philippine Airlines will now be flying from Manila to New York starting in March," he said.

"This positive development benefits both our countries as it creates more opportunities for trade and tourism," Cuisia added.

Washington also supported the expansion of allowable sources of Philippine mangoes for importation into the US and Manila's request for a continued rice waiver at the World Trade Organization.

Cuisia also said that the two countries have expanded their economic cooperation.

The US committed an estimated $139 million under the Partnership for Growth Program and $434 million under the Philippine Compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation.

"We are the sick man of Asia no more," Cuisia said, citing the 6 percent year-round growth of the Philippines in 2014.

The death of transgender Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude in Olongapo City and the custody of Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton posed some challenges to the two countries' bilateral ties.

Questions on the US-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement governing custody of erring American serviceman was again raised only a few years after the case of the alleged gang rape of a Filipina by US Marines in 2005.

The Laude case was said to have prompted the cancelation of some scheduled port calls of the US Navy in the Philippines. Officials also disagreed with Washington's insistence that Pemberton be placed in the custody of Philippine authorities.

Nevertheless, the cases failed to make a significant dent to the nations' partnership as the US is poised to have rotational presence of its troops in Philippine military bases as part of the US' strategic rebalance to the Asia Pacific.