US may be hitting back on RP for anti-VFA clamor – lawmakers

MANILA, Philippines – Some lawmakers expressed suspicion that a US State Department report on rampant corruption in the Philippines could be part of the American government's retaliation to a strong clamor to get the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) junked. In a statement issued on Saturday, Reps. Pedro Romualdo (Camaiguin) and Antonio Cuenco (Cebu), said they believed that the US report titled, "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices in 2008," might be related to the custody issue of convicted rapist Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith. According to the report, the Arroyo government is to be blamed on the widespread corruption due to its failure to enforce laws penalizing crooked officials and withholding information on questionable transactions. "Obviously, the US is trying to besmirch the country," said Romualdo, chairman of the House Committee on Good Government. "Let us expect continuing negative reports from US. This could be connected to the strong clamor to abrogate the VFA because of the custody issue of Smith. Galit na naman sila sa atin." He warned the Arroyo government that the US government might launch similar "baseless" criticisms of Malacañang in the future. Cuenco, chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said it was possible that the report might have been influenced by the Smith case. "It could be. That’s possible it is linked to that case (Smith)," Cuenco said. Romualdo said the report could be very well be like the World Bank (WB) report on the alleged bid-rigging activities of contractors on road projects, which he deems as based on hearsay. "They US taught us about due process, they should fully exercise that to us. They should show us respect. Don’t bully us," Romualdo said, adding that the US report might be just like the World Bank report. Cuenco said that the report was unfair. "I think they [US] are entitled to their opinion, but insofar our government is concerned we are doing our best to stamp out corruption," Cuenco said. "I do not think it was fair on their part to make that conclusion. It was unfair and uncalled for them to make such conclusion regarding corruption in our government." Romualdo also asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to file an immediate diplomatic protest. "It deserves diplomatic protest, we have to protect the country from these exaggerated criticisms," Romualdo said. For his part, Cuenco said he would consult first the members of his committee on issue of lodging diplomatic protest. - Fidel Jimenez, GMANews.TV