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July 12, 2009
Arroyo meets CIA chief
<a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20090712/cia.jpg"><img src="http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20090712/cia.jpg"></a>
Visiting Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director Leon Panetta (left) is greeted by Philippine president Gloria Arroyo during a courtesy call at the Malacanang presidential palace. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
MANILA - US CENTRAL Intelligence Agency (CIA) director Leon Panetta met Philippine President Gloria Arroyo on Sunday for a closed-door security meeting, officials said.
Mr Panetta was escorted by Filipino Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo as they arrived at the Malacanang presidential palace, officials said.
There were no immediate details on what transpired, but Ms Arroyo's chief aide, Eduardo Ermita, earlier said the visit was to re-affirm Washington's commitment to its Southeast Asian anti-terror partner.
Mr Panetta's visit came just hours after Al Qaeda-linked Islamic militants freed an Italian Red Cross worker they had held for six months in the southern Philippines.
It also came just days after a series of bomb attacks in the south blamed on another group of Muslim separatist rebels left at least eight dead and over a hundred wounded. -- AFP
July 12, 2009
Arroyo to meet Obama
<a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20090712/arroyo-ap.jpg"><img src="http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20090712/arroyo-ap.jpg"></a>
Phillippine President Gloria Arroyo (left) will become Southeast Asia's first leader to meet Barack Obama in the White House when she visits Washington on July 30. -- PHOTO: AP
WASHINGTON - PHILIPPINE President Gloria Arroyo will become Southeast Asia's first leader to meet Barack Obama in the White House when she visits Washington on July 30, the US president's office said on Saturday.
'The president will receive President Arroyo at the White House on July 30, where they will have an opportunity to discuss ways to enhance US-Philippine cooperation on critical global issues including counter-terrorism and climate change, as well as further the traditionally strong alliance and bond between our nations,' the White House said in a statement.
'President Arroyo will be the first leader from Southeast Asia to visit the United States under the Obama administration.' Ms Arroyo, who last visited Washington in June 2008 and met then-president George W. Bush in the White House, is also scheduled to meet 'key US government officials and members of Congress,' as well as entrepreneurs and business groups.
Manila has remained a steadfast US ally in Southeast Asia, notably in Washington's efforts to root out extremists and terror cells.
In early June US Defense Secretary Robert Gates vowed stepped-up support for the Philippines in its battle against homegrown Islamic militant groups linked to Al-Qaeda.
The Philippines and United States are bound by a 1951 treaty that calls on each side to help the other in times of war.
US special forces advisers have trained and equipped their Philippine counterparts against Abu Sayyaf, a small gang of militants with links to Al-Qaeda and blamed for the country's worst terrorist attacks. -- AFP
July 12, 2009
Arroyo meets CIA chief
<a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20090712/cia.jpg"><img src="http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20090712/cia.jpg"></a>
Visiting Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director Leon Panetta (left) is greeted by Philippine president Gloria Arroyo during a courtesy call at the Malacanang presidential palace. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
MANILA - US CENTRAL Intelligence Agency (CIA) director Leon Panetta met Philippine President Gloria Arroyo on Sunday for a closed-door security meeting, officials said.
Mr Panetta was escorted by Filipino Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo as they arrived at the Malacanang presidential palace, officials said.
There were no immediate details on what transpired, but Ms Arroyo's chief aide, Eduardo Ermita, earlier said the visit was to re-affirm Washington's commitment to its Southeast Asian anti-terror partner.
Mr Panetta's visit came just hours after Al Qaeda-linked Islamic militants freed an Italian Red Cross worker they had held for six months in the southern Philippines.
It also came just days after a series of bomb attacks in the south blamed on another group of Muslim separatist rebels left at least eight dead and over a hundred wounded. -- AFP
July 12, 2009
Arroyo to meet Obama
<a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20090712/arroyo-ap.jpg"><img src="http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20090712/arroyo-ap.jpg"></a>
Phillippine President Gloria Arroyo (left) will become Southeast Asia's first leader to meet Barack Obama in the White House when she visits Washington on July 30. -- PHOTO: AP
WASHINGTON - PHILIPPINE President Gloria Arroyo will become Southeast Asia's first leader to meet Barack Obama in the White House when she visits Washington on July 30, the US president's office said on Saturday.
'The president will receive President Arroyo at the White House on July 30, where they will have an opportunity to discuss ways to enhance US-Philippine cooperation on critical global issues including counter-terrorism and climate change, as well as further the traditionally strong alliance and bond between our nations,' the White House said in a statement.
'President Arroyo will be the first leader from Southeast Asia to visit the United States under the Obama administration.' Ms Arroyo, who last visited Washington in June 2008 and met then-president George W. Bush in the White House, is also scheduled to meet 'key US government officials and members of Congress,' as well as entrepreneurs and business groups.
Manila has remained a steadfast US ally in Southeast Asia, notably in Washington's efforts to root out extremists and terror cells.
In early June US Defense Secretary Robert Gates vowed stepped-up support for the Philippines in its battle against homegrown Islamic militant groups linked to Al-Qaeda.
The Philippines and United States are bound by a 1951 treaty that calls on each side to help the other in times of war.
US special forces advisers have trained and equipped their Philippine counterparts against Abu Sayyaf, a small gang of militants with links to Al-Qaeda and blamed for the country's worst terrorist attacks. -- AFP
