DFA: No problem with US participation to get Marwan

MANILA, Philippines - Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said yesterday he does not see a problem in the reported participation of the United States to get Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Abdul bin Hir, alias Marwan, as long as it did not violate the Constitution and terms of agreement.

He explained that transnational agreements and cooperation agreements on fighting terrorism with many countries are important because international terrorism is a “scourge” and the Philippines needs to have the cooperation of responsible nations. 

“As long as the agreements and the Constitution say they should not participate in operations. That’s  the only limitation. Put yourself in my place and think about it carefully. Won’t you come to the same conclusion that you could use all the help you can get just as long as you don’t violate the Constitution?” Del Rosario told reporters.

“I think we all realize that the fight against terrorism is one that is a cooperative effort among all nations, so I don’t see what the problem is in terms of any assistance that we may have gotten,” he added.

The independent bloc in the House of Representatives also believes that there is no need for Malacañang to hide US involvement in the operation to arrest Marwan in Mamasapano that resulted in the massacre of 44 policemen in a clash with Moro rebels.

Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, leader of the bloc, recalled that he asked the help of the US government after Super Typhoon Yolanda devastated his province in November 2013 and the assistance came immediately.

“I called somebody from the US embassy because when Yolanda struck, the Defense Secretary (Voltaire Gazmin), the DILG Secretary (Mar Roxas) were not there, no communication, no support, devastated. So I asked somebody who could help. They’re (US) allies so they helped,” Romualdez said. – With Alexis Romero, Paolo Romero