Two US legislatures assure RP no cut in military aid
Mayor Celso Lobragat (right) explains to Texas Rep. Silvestre Reyes a vague question from local journalist as New Mexico Rep. Heather Wilson looks on during a press conference with local reporters at City Hall in Zamboanga City Saturday.
Mayor Celso Lobragat (right) explains to Texas Rep. Silvestre Reyes a vague question from local journalist as New Mexico Rep. Heather Wilson looks on during a press conference with local reporters at City Hall in Zamboanga City Saturday.Two American lawmakers in the Unites States’ Congress have assured the Philippines will get the needed financial assistance for the global campaign against terrorism despite a State Department proposal to cut military aid to the country.
“We know that there is an important part of the global effort that we’re to make in terms of protecting our allies and protecting the key and vital regions of the world,” US Rep. Silvestre Reyes of the District of Texas said in a press conference at City Hall.
“We’re committed to continuing to assist and expand the assistance as much as we possibly can within the confines and invitation of your government. We will continue to pour support, including financial, to boost whatever efforts both countries have done to fight terrorism,” he added.
Reyes is chairman of the House’ Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and a member of the House Armed Services Committee.
The top American lawmaker arrived here on Saturday together with Reps. Rodney Frelinghuysen (New Jersey), Heather Wilson (New Mexico), Gregory Meeks (New York), and Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (Maryland).
The US State Department had recommended cutting Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to the Philippines from $29.7 million to $11.1 million, and the International Military Exchange Training (IMET) from $2.9 million to $1.5 million in Fiscal 2008.
The proposal of the State Department to cut Philippine military aid came amid the extra-judicial killings in the country.
But Rep. Wilson told local reporters there is a strong support of US Congress for the Philippines in terms of providing financial assistance, training and logistics to the latter’s campaign on terrorism.
It was not clear, however, if she was referring to the US House and Senate Appropriations Committees that voted to maintain foreign military financing (FMF) assistance to the Philippines for fiscal year 2008 steady at $30 million.
The proposal of the State Department to the US Congress to cut military aid came amid extrajudicial killings in the Philippines, allegedly committed by some members of the Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“We know that there is an important part of the global effort that we’re to make in terms of protecting our allies and protecting the key and vital regions of the world,” US Rep. Silvestre Reyes of the District of Texas said in a press conference at City Hall.
“We’re committed to continuing to assist and expand the assistance as much as we possibly can within the confines and invitation of your government. We will continue to pour support, including financial, to boost whatever efforts both countries have done to fight terrorism,” he added.
Reyes is chairman of the House’ Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and a member of the House Armed Services Committee.
The top American lawmaker arrived here on Saturday together with Reps. Rodney Frelinghuysen (New Jersey), Heather Wilson (New Mexico), Gregory Meeks (New York), and Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (Maryland).
The US State Department had recommended cutting Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to the Philippines from $29.7 million to $11.1 million, and the International Military Exchange Training (IMET) from $2.9 million to $1.5 million in Fiscal 2008.
The proposal of the State Department to cut Philippine military aid came amid the extra-judicial killings in the country.
But Rep. Wilson told local reporters there is a strong support of US Congress for the Philippines in terms of providing financial assistance, training and logistics to the latter’s campaign on terrorism.
It was not clear, however, if she was referring to the US House and Senate Appropriations Committees that voted to maintain foreign military financing (FMF) assistance to the Philippines for fiscal year 2008 steady at $30 million.
The proposal of the State Department to the US Congress to cut military aid came amid extrajudicial killings in the Philippines, allegedly committed by some members of the Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
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