Embassy of the United States in Manila

Transcript of the interview with U.S. Ambassador Francis Ricciardone
at the Manila City Hall, February 3, 2005

AMBASSADOR RICCIARDONE: Good morning.

Q: Sir, how do you see the passing of the new tax measure?

AMBASSADOR RICCIARDONE: How do we see the passing of tax measure? Well, we see a democratic process that is working. We have full confidence that your legislators in their wisdom, and your executive branch in their wisdom, will come to the right formulation for you. The important thing, for us, is to see your country be strong and prosperous, because if you’re strong and prosperous, as our friend, as an ally, as a major trading partner of the United States, we’ll be strong and prosperous. So, you need to decide how you want to collect your taxes, what the right level is. You know what the right thing to do is. You don’t need us to give you advice. But count on us to support you as things get hard, and to want your success and to celebrate your success.

Q: Sir, with the recovery of the peso lately, do you see this as an encouragement for investors?

AMBASSADOR RICCIARDONE: I see so much good news coming out of the Philippines now, and I have to sit back and scratch my head – I’m delighted with it. Economic growth figures are up, the peso is strong, you’re making success against corruption, the stock market is up. Things are looking good in this country, and it’s a great way to start – it could be a really great year. I think during this year and the rest of President Arroyo’s term, you can make history. You can turn this country around. We’ll be there with you cheering, supporting, urging you on.

Q: Sir, is it true that there are U.S. spies here in the country to help fight (inaudible word)?

AMBASSADOR RICCIARDONE: “The place is crawling with American spies!” Come on, let’s be serious, all right? No, it’s not true. I never said any such thing. People are making stuff up. If you’re talking about American forces who are in this country, they’re here to support your soldiers at the request of your soldiers and the request of your government. They’re visitors under the Visiting Forces Agreement. Anytime that your commanders or your leaders decide that you don’t want the United States to support your soldiers, please say so. We’ll be gone instantly.

Q: Do you think there is a need for Charter Change?

AMBASSADOR RICCIARDONE: I think the need for Charter Change is something that every country has to figure out for itself. All constitutions -- all good constitutions in democracies – number one, are hard to change, deliberately; and number two, have provisions for change, internally. The only thing the United States is concerned about is that the Constitutional processes should work. What would distress us, is if you had someone trying to work outside the Constitution to change your government. But if your Congress, your Constituent Assembly, or any other process decides that you want to work on changing your Constitution, as the Constitution itself permits, that’s a Filipino decision.

Q: Are you saying that the Constitution needs change, amendment?

AMBASSADOR RICCIARDONE: I’m an American. I don’t have any say on how or what should be changed in your Constitution. All we care about, as your friends, is that you do everything you can to keep your democracy strong. We’re here today, celebrating the incredible sacrifice of Filipinos and Americans, and the other allies 60 years ago, to liberate your country, and make it so your people can be unleashed and build a prosperous future. We want to see that legacy passed on through your Constitutional means. You decide how. We’ll be there with you.

Q: Your reaction to the message of the Mayor that English should be the medium of instruction, or a medium of communication in the Philippines? Any reaction on that?

AMBASSADOR RICCIARDONE: Well, it makes sense to me that – thank God I was born into a country that speaks English. It gives me an incredible advantage in dealing with the global economy and the world as it is today. I rather wish I could also speak Tagalog, as the Mayor also spoke very beautifully. It seems to me the more languages one speaks, the richer one is as a human being. And to speak languages that are widely known around the world is a huge advantage. I’ve studied other foreign languages. I’ve worked hard to do it. I’ve studied Arabic, Italian, French, Turkish. I think it’s important for people to know foreign languages.

Q: Ambassador, what about the JI threats? Do we have any preparations for that? The assistance coming from the U.S., aside from intelligence or information gathering, sharing it with the other Asian countries including the Philippines?

AMBASSADOR RICCIARDONE: So, the question is on the Jemaah Islamiyah, in particular, as a terrorist threat? We’re working systematically with your government to combat terrorism, and the swamp in which terrorism can grow and fester. That swamp is a swamp that is exacerbated by ignorance, by disinvesting in education over a lifetime. The Mayor spoke about deliberately failing to teach English. But deliberately failing to invest in our children and in educating them is a problem. So, we’re helping, as your Government is placing emphasis on reviving quality of education and access to education. We’re helping by having USAID and other elements of our Embassy support your Government in reviving education. There are other ways we’re trying to help revive the economy in the poorest areas, the most conflict-affected areas: with livelihood programs, small-scale infrastructure, public health, all kinds of conflict resolution mechanisms.

And in addition, when your Government finds it necessary to use the full force of the law, law enforcement means and military means, against foreign terrorist operatives or for that matter, sad to say, even Filipinos – who want to destroy their country and kill their fellow countrymen – we’re going to support your law enforcement people and your soldiers, as we are. It doesn’t mean we’re going to shoot, it doesn’t mean we’re going to be running around as “spies,” as your colleague suggested. What it does mean is, if we know anything, if we have information, we’re going to put it at their disposal. If we can help with training, we’re going to help with training. If we can help with equipment, we’re going to help with equipment. If we can help by the lessons we’ve learned in how to bring agencies together to cooperate and share information, how to communicate together across civilian-military organizational lines, then we’ll offer those lessons. And your leaders, your law enforcement authorities, and your soldiers can see if they apply to you. In two weeks I’ll be going to Davao to help celebrate the conclusion of an exercise involving civilian law enforcement officers and military officers who are going against drug traffickers. We’ve learned that we’ve got to put the civilian and the military together in our country. We’re practicing that with you, and we see your country getting stronger against drug traffickers, and terrorists.

Q. Thank you, Ambassador.

* * * * *


Transcript of the interview with U.S. Ambassador Francis Ricciardone at the Manila City Hall, February 3, 2005 AMBASSADOR RICCIARDONE: Good morning. Q: Sir, how do you see the passing of the new tax measure? AMBASSADOR RICCIARDONE: How do we see the passing of tax measure? Well, we see a democratic process that is working. We have full confidence that your legislators in their wisdom, and your executive branch in their wisdom, will come to the right formulation for you. The important thing, for us, is to see your country be strong and prosperous, because if you’re strong and prosperous, as our friend, as an ally, as a major trading partner of the United States, we’ll be strong and prosperous. So, you need to decide how you want to collect your taxes, what the right level is. You know what the right thing to do is. You don’t need us to give you advice. But count on us to support you as things get hard, and to want your success and to celebrate your success. Q: Sir, with the recovery of the peso lately, do you see this as an encouragement for investors? AMBASSADOR RICCIARDONE: I see so much good news coming out of the Philippines now, and I have to sit back and scratch my head – I’m delighted with it. Economic growth figures are up, the peso is strong, you’re making success against corruption, the stock market is up. Things are looking good in this country, and it’s a great way to start – it could be a really great year. I think during this year and the rest of President Arroyo’s term, you can make history. You can turn this country around. We’ll be there with you cheering, supporting, urging you on. Q: Sir, is it true that there are U.S. spies here in the country to help fight (inaudible word)? AMBASSADOR RICCIARDONE: “The place is crawling with American spies!” Come on, let’s be serious, all right? No, it’s not true. I never said any such thing. People are making stuff up. If you’re talking about American forces who are in this country, they’re here to support your soldiers at the request of your soldiers and the request of your government. They’re visitors under the Visiting Forces Agreement. Anytime that your commanders or your leaders decide that you don’t want the United States to support your soldiers, please say so. We’ll be gone instantly. Q: Do you think there is a need for Charter Change? AMBASSADOR RICCIARDONE: I think the need for Charter Change is something that every country has to figure out for itself. All constitutions -- all good constitutions in democracies – number one, are hard to change, deliberately; and number two, have provisions for change, internally. The only thing the United States is concerned about is that the Constitutional processes should work. What would distress us, is if you had someone trying to work outside the Constitution to change your government. But if your Congress, your Constituent Assembly, or any other process decides that you want to work on changing your Constitution, as the Constitution itself permits, that’s a Filipino decision. Q: Are you saying that the Constitution needs change, amendment? AMBASSADOR RICCIARDONE: I’m an American. I don’t have any say on how or what should be changed in your Constitution. All we care about, as your friends, is that you do everything you can to keep your democracy strong. We’re here today, celebrating the incredible sacrifice of Filipinos and Americans, and the other allies 60 years ago, to liberate your country, and make it so your people can be unleashed and build a prosperous future. We want to see that legacy passed on through your Constitutional means. You decide how. We’ll be there with you. Q: Your reaction to the message of the Mayor that English should be the medium of instruction, or a medium of communication in the Philippines? Any reaction on that? AMBASSADOR RICCIARDONE: Well, it makes sense to me that – thank God I was born into a country that speaks English. It gives me an incredible advantage in dealing with the global economy and the world as it is today. I rather wish I could also speak Tagalog, as the Mayor also spoke very beautifully. It seems to me the more languages one speaks, the richer one is as a human being. And to speak languages that are widely known around the world is a huge advantage. I’ve studied other foreign languages. I’ve worked hard to do it. I’ve studied Arabic, Italian, French, Turkish. I think it’s important for people to know foreign languages. Q: Ambassador, what about the JI threats? Do we have any preparations for that? The assistance coming from the U.S., aside from intelligence or information gathering, sharing it with the other Asian countries including the Philippines? AMBASSADOR RICCIARDONE: So, the question is on the Jemaah Islamiyah, in particular, as a terrorist threat? We’re working systematically with your government to combat terrorism, and the swamp in which terrorism can grow and fester. That swamp is a swamp that is exacerbated by ignorance, by disinvesting in education over a lifetime. The Mayor spoke about deliberately failing to teach English. But deliberately failing to invest in our children and in educating them is a problem. So, we’re helping, as your Government is placing emphasis on reviving quality of education and access to education. We’re helping by having USAID and other elements of our Embassy support your Government in reviving education. There are other ways we’re trying to help revive the economy in the poorest areas, the most conflict-affected areas: with livelihood programs, small-scale infrastructure, public health, all kinds of conflict resolution mechanisms. And in addition, when your Government finds it necessary to use the full force of the law, law enforcement means and military means, against foreign terrorist operatives or for that matter, sad to say, even Filipinos – who want to destroy their country and kill their fellow countrymen – we’re going to support your law enforcement people and your soldiers, as we are. It doesn’t mean we’re going to shoot, it doesn’t mean we’re going to be running around as “spies,” as your colleague suggested. What it does mean is, if we know anything, if we have information, we’re going to put it at their disposal. If we can help with training, we’re going to help with training. If we can help with equipment, we’re going to help with equipment. If we can help by the lessons we’ve learned in how to bring agencies together to cooperate and share information, how to communicate together across civilian-military organizational lines, then we’ll offer those lessons. And your leaders, your law enforcement authorities, and your soldiers can see if they apply to you. In two weeks I’ll be going to Davao to help celebrate the conclusion of an exercise involving civilian law enforcement officers and military officers who are going against drug traffickers. We’ve learned that we’ve got to put the civilian and the military together in our country. We’re practicing that with you, and we see your country getting stronger against drug traffickers, and terrorists. Q. Thank you, Ambassador. * * * * *
	Last Update :: 01/05/2007
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