When he assumes his post, incoming United States Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. will inherit "huge" problems hounding the two nations' relationship, including the controversial Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
Militant umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said Saturday Thomas will also have to face queries about the continued presence of US forces in Mindanao. Obama names first African-American envoy to RPThe United States will have a new ambassador to the Philippines after US President Barack Obama nominated a career diplomat and fellow African-American to replace Kristie Ann Kenney, who was the first woman US ambassador to Manila. [Read more] “It won’t be smooth sailing for the new envoy," Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said in a statement.
Reyes said that while Thomas is the first African-American to ever be appointed ambassador to the Philippines, he will ultimately be judged “based on his engagement of issues."
According to Reyes, Thomas would have to deal will the proposed review of the VFA and the continued deployment of US troops in Mindanao.
Kenney won't get away clean
Reyes said outgoing US Ambassador Kristie Ann Kenney will not leave with a clean record either.
He cited the US’ efforts to take in Lance Corporal Daniel Smith after his conviction by a Philippine court for the rape of a woman in Subic “in violation of Philippine laws."
“For all her efforts to give the ‘war on terror’ a chummy spin, controversies in the VFA, human rights violations and US basing in the South still came to the fore. She will leave behind many unresolved issues, including those that have spurred a Philippine Senate resolution calling for a review or termination of the VFA," Reyes said.
He also said militants will not be holding their breath on whether Thomas' appointment signals major changes in RP-US relations.
“We’ve been visited by three Washington officials the past six months, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and CIA director Leon Panetta. These visits merely affirmed existing lopsided relations, including the necessity of the VFA. Thomas' appointment will not likely change any of that," Reyes said. - GMANews.TV
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