US pushing for increased military aid to Philippines

Manila: The United States Congress is supporting proposals to increase military assistance to the Philippines, a top ranking Manila official said.

In a statement, Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo said "both Houses of the US Congress have recommended close to double the amount requested by the Obama administration for foreign military assistance."

Romulo said the Obama administration has proposed $667 million (Dh2.4 billion) in assistance for the Philippines in 2010 which is much higher than the $54 billion that Manila has been receiving annually between 2002 and 2006.

The assistance package includes defence, security and economic aid; poverty alleviation and benefits for Filipino veterans who fought under the US flag during the Second World War.

"This request for the Philippines is the second largest amount of military assistance in the Asia Pacific region," Romulo said.

Human rights

Earlier, Representative Neri Colmenares of the Bayan Muna (Nation First) party, said the Philippines is poised to lose $2 million in military assistance from the US in 2010 if the Philippines continues to fall short of addressing human rights concerns.

Colmenares said that during his recent visit to the US, he was informed by the deputy director of the Office of Maritime Southeast Asian Affairs at the Department of State, Raymond Richhart, that the $2 million will not be released until the human rights concerns are addressed.

But Romulo said the Obama administration has requested the deletion of the condition on the $2 million in security assistance in recognition of significant progress made by the Philippines in addressing human rights concerns.

"The Philippine government had been recognised by both the Obama administration and the US Congress for its efforts in addressing human rights issues. We welcome US engagement with our country because we share the same values of democracy, freedom and rule of law,

"The Philippine government remains fully committed and determined to address issues in relation to the protection and promotion of human rights," Romulo said.

The Philippines is largely dependent on foreign aid, particularly from the US, for its defence and security.