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Obama is the 44th US President who campaigned on a mantra of "Hope, Change." He had
successfully bested Hillary Clinton, the first viable female president in American history for the
Democratic presidential nomination. He then went on to soundly defeat his Republican opponent
for the presidency, John McCain, in the November 2008 polls.
No wonder that in October 2007, surveyed Filipinos expressed their perception that Arroyo is the
"Most Corrupt President in Philippine History." Malacanang's current occupant has faced a
number of unsuccessful challenges, including four successive impeachment complaints, two or
three military mutinies, and a rectifying "People Power" exercise, EDSA 3, which sought to
restore the presidency of the deposed but democratically elected Joseph Estrada early on in her
term. Only in February, 2009, ten military groups of retired and active servicemen paid an
advertisement declaring their support behind a brigadier general on court martial trial for the
February 2006 uprising.
The US and the Philippines have historically enjoyed a longstanding "special friendship." It
supposedly began on a spiritual plane, on the night of October 24, 1898 when US President
William McKinley arrived at the decision to colonize the Philippine Islands after the "voice of
God" told him "to take them all, to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and Christianize them."
Rightists embrace the US as an ally, while the leftists brand
America a neo-imperialist that has continued to exploit its
former colony even during the post-World War Independence
period. Particularly during the time when the US still had its
military bases, and the Central Intelligence Agency had its SE
Asian main station/regional headquarters in Manila,
Philippine presidents were de facto obliged to toe the
American line--or risks severe consequences. During a Cold
War period when clandestine CIA operations were marked by
intervention, deception, psychological warfare, instigations of
military coup d'état and even the assassinations of foreign
political leaders such as Chile's Salvador Allende (contained
in the 1975 Church Committee Report of the US
congressional investigations), the price of displeasing Uncle
Sam was tough. Nationalist Filipino Senator Claro M. Recto,
who ran for president during the November 12, 1957
Philippine elections, paid the price with having to endure a
bag of dirty tricks propaganda, and later, with his life. For
having actively opposed the military presence of the US in his
country, his presidential campaign was immorally and
deviously sabotaged by the CIA.
This agency-apparatus of US imperialism ran foul operations that included the distribution of
holed condoms sealed in packages labeled with "Courtesy of Claro M. Recto--the People's
Friend." During a more conservative era, just the condom themselves would have repulsed
Filipinos, and having them holes would have been seen as most obscene. The CIA work on Recto
apparently did not end there. On October 2, 1960, Recto 'mysteriously' died of heart attack in
Rome, Italy while on a cultural mission on the way to Spain. Before he died, Recto was visited
by "two Caucasians" donned in business suits. The possible
involvement of the CIA in his death came to light following
the subsequent release of US government documents revealing
that CIA Chief of Station Ralph Lovett and US Ambassador to
the Philippines Admiral Raymond Spruance had discussed the
murder of Recto with a vial of poison.
Day 0 - Saturday (HK GMT) March 14, 2009 Obama calls Arroyo
Day 1 - Sunday (HK GMT), March 15, 2009 Malacanang proudly propagates
news of the call
But deal with her Obama has begun. The call to Arroyo last March 14 was described by the
drumbeaters of an ecstatic Malacanang as a "surprise" communication. After playing elusive for
months, what issue of US interest could have possibly prompted Obama to finally make contact
with the notoriously corrupt SE Asian leader?
According to Arroyo's Press Secretary, Obama called to reaffirm the alliance of US with the
Philippines and the commitment to the VFA "which remains critical to the bilateral relationship
and our strategic interests".
The scrape with China, which came two weeks before the call to Arroyo, presumably impressed
on the new US President the urgency to ensure that the US mutual defense agreement with the
Philippines be maintained-at practically all costs.
Wikipedia writes that: "Throughout the trial, the issue of U.S. vs. Philippine custody on the
accused U.S. Marines was the focus of street demonstrations and protests by political groups and
women's rights advocates, and it was a hot news item in the Philippine press." The Makati
Regional Trial court sentenced him with reclusion perpetua on December 4, 2006, making Smith
the first American serviceman convicted of rape under Philippine jurisdiction. The Subic rape
case would continue to be the rallying crux of nationalist and anti-American protest actions
against the VFA.
For much of the trial and post-conviction, Smith was under the custody of the US Embassy,
following the agreement made between the Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary and the US
Ambassador to the Philippines in December 2007. The US earlier canceled the yearly Balikatan
joint military exercises during the time Smith was in Philippine custody.
As much as Obama's call came as a "surprise" to Malacanang, the Filipino public was surprised
mega-time with the subsequent news that Smith's rape victim, "Nicole," has terminated the
services of her lawyer and has gone to live in the US--of all countries. The development came
within only three days of Obama's call, no matter that Malacanang earlier denied that the case of
LCpl. Smith was not discussed with Arroyo.
The press statement released by "Nicole" and expressing disappointment over the Philippine
justice system, thus, becomes disconcerting because common sense tells that if it is justice she
really seeks, she should not have chosen to reside in the country of her attacker. It simply does
not make sense how she could trust the very government that has refused to turn over her rapist,
LCpl. Smith, to the jurisdiction of the Philippine justice system. The fact is that Nicole has
already won the case in terms of proving that she has been raped--with the comforting help of
thousands of, although definitely not all, Filipinos who believed in her story and wished for her
court victory. She not only got Smith convicted, but, as well, won the custody issue, even if only
for a brief period.
If the US of A is agog to keep the Subic rape case out of the way of the Visiting Forces
Agreement, can't just they ask the stalking Arroyo to pardon Smith of the crime of rape? Perhaps,
Smith should be told to muster all sincerity there is in him and then publicly apologize to Nicole
for the crime of rape. That should appease many Filipinos enough, particularly since he's
generally taken as a handsome, gentle-looking guy. Of course, under such a scenario, the US visa
offer to Nicole should stay, whether she takes it or not under 'normal' Malacanang and US
pressures.
Hope it's not wishful thinking. Or isn't it? Calling on your campaign promise of "Change," Your
Excellency Brother Barack Obama.
_______
References:
Mydans, Seth. "Expecting Praise, Filipinos Are Criticized for Ouster." 2001, Feb. 5. The New
York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/05/world/05FILI.html?ex=1204174800&en=835b6565116a0d
d1&ei=5070e
Bowring, Philip. "Filipino Democracy Needs Stronger Institutions." International Herald Tribune
website. 2001, January 22. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2001/01/22/edbow.t_3.php
Abaya, Antonio. Snubbed Again. 15 February 2009.
http://www.iskandalo.com/article.html?id=499 Velarde, Vidal know about guilty verdict in
Estrada trial. 5 July 2007.
"Arroyo hit for 'wasting public funds chasing Obama'" 8 February 2009. ABS-CBN News Site.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/02/07/09/binay-arroyo-stop-chasing-obama
Lopez, JB. "WB: Mike part of syndicate." 24 February 2009. Malaya. In Ellen Tordesillas Blog.
http://www.ellentordesillas.com/?p=4391
WB witness: FG sought grease money in bid rig. The Daily Tribune 4 February 2009.
http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20090204hed1.html
Arroyo hit for 'wasting public funds chasing Obama'. 07 February. ABS-CBN Site.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/02/07/09/binay-arroyo-stop-chasing-obama
Claro M. Recto. (2009, March 17). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 08:52,
March 17, 2009, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Claro_M._Recto&oldid=277824843
The Worst Book of 2002. Review of The Savage Wars of Peace: Small Wars and the Rise of
American Power, by Max Boot. 2003.
http://www.main.nc.us/books/books.cgi?theworstbookof2002.
Simbulan, Roland. Covert Operations and the CIA's Hidden History in the Philippines. 18 Aug.
2000. Retrieved March 17, 2009,http://www.derechos.org/nizkor/filipinas/doc/cia.html.
Results of the Past Presidential & Vice-Presidential Elections. The Philippine Presidency Project
Site. http://www.pangulo.ph/election_results.php
Gearan, Anne. Officials: US ship in China spat was hunting subs. 10 March 2009. Yahoo News.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090310/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_china_incident
Arroyo US trip draws flak in storm-battered Philippines. 25 jUNE 2008. M & G News.
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/asiapacific/features/article_1413163.php/Arroyo_US_t
rip_draws_flak_in_storm-battered_Philippines
RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement. 12 February 2009. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
Retrieved 14:31, March 17, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=RP-
US_Visiting_Forces_Agreement&oldid=270144013
Lichauco, Alejandro. AFP opposition presents alternative leader, program. 26 February 2009.
http://magdaloparasapagbabago.blogspot.com/2009/02/afp-opposition-presents-alternative.html
Thea, Alberto and Erika Tapalla. ‘Nicole’ left for US ‘for good’—lawyer. 17 March 2009.
Inquirer.net. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090317-194579/Nicole-
terminates-lawyers-services
'Nicole' leaves for US, settles for P100,000. Philstar.com. 18 March 2009.
http://ph.news.yahoo.com/star/20090317/tph-nicole-p100000-541dfb4.html
Photo Credits:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_McKinley
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramon_Magsaysay
http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2007/01/136254.php
http://midfield.wordpress.com/2009/03/07/rp-us-relations-in-a-changed-world-the-
vfa-in-ferment/
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/asiapacific/features/article_1413163.php/A
rroyo_US_trip_draws_flak_in_storm-battered_Philippines
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090310/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_china_incident
http://feudart.com/2008/05/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Spruanceet
http://ph.news.yahoo.com/star/20090317/tph-nicole-p100000-541dfb4.htmlpe.htm
http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Barack-Obama-Hope-Change-Posters_i4471293_.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHwEmWVp6i8
http://www.pinoypress.net/2009/02/06/president-arroyo%E2%80%99s-attendance-
at-national-prayer-breakfast-draws-demand-for-human-rights-in-the-philippines/