RP inks P20.3M contract with US lobby firm

The Philippines signed Wednesday (US time) a P20.3-million ($500,000) six-month contract with a United States-based lobby firm to push its interests in Washington, the Department of Affairs (DFA) announced Thursday. Philippine Ambassador to Washington Willy Gaa said the contract will be with Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat, partner and chairman of the International Practice of Covington & Burling LLP. "Ambassador Eizenstat and his team in Covington & Burling will provide welcome support to our efforts here in Washington. Our consultant and his excellent team will work broadly on a bipartisan basis, particularly in Congress," Gaa said. Eizenstat's background include being ambassador to the European Union and chief White House domestic policy adviser to President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981. Covington & Burling LLP is one of the leading law firms in Washington DC. With offices in Brussels, London, New York, and San Francisco, it has consistently ranked among the top 20 best corporate law firms in the US. Gaa said the first priority of the contract will be to push for rights of Filipino World War II veterans. "Our work priority and that of Ambassador Eizenstant and his team remains that of correcting the grave injustice that was done to our World War II veterans," he said, adding the Philippine government remains committed and determined to win for "Filipino veterans the benefits, dignity and recognition that they truly deserve." But a group pushing for the US Congress enactment of a bill that will grant equity pension benefits to Filipino World War II veterans had earlier raised apprehension regarding entering into a contract with a group identified with the Democrats. According to the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Inc., the contract with Covington and Burling LLP could jeopardize the fate of the long-awaited compensation measure because it does not mention the Filipino veterans' issue as a Philippine government priority. Eric Lachica, executive director of ACFVI, had recommended to Gaa the hiring of an influential Republican lobby firm to complement or partner with the Covington group not only to reaffirm the Philippine government’s non-partisan relationship with the Bush administration and the US Congress, but to reach a bi-partisan compromise on the pending bills that would benefit Filipino war veterans. “Based on our coalition's long experience of working with the key legislators on Capitol Hill, bipartisan support is necessary and essential from the US President, Republican and Democratic senators and congress members to pass bills," Lachica had said. Lachica added: “The sole choice of former US Ambassador to the European Union Stuart Eizenstat, a former Clinton and Carter cabinet official, and his Covington firm may create a partisan perception with the Bush White House and the Republican Senators that the Philippine government may be overwhelmingly supporting Democrats during this election year." - GMANews.TV