Q: Can you tell us
how the US feels after the news has surfaced about this spying case
in the White House involving a Filipino-American citizen?
Ambassador Johnson: Well of course we would be concerned
about any story of this kind that has to do with the national security
of the United States. This is a criminal case that is currently under
investigation and we do not have any comment on it here. I expect
that there will be comment on it in the United States as the case
develops. At this stage, it is still under investigation and the accused
will have their day on court.
Q: Does this case put
a strain on the relations between the United States and the Philippines?
Ambassador Johnson: I do not think so. Our relationship
is very strong and it has been so for a long time. We have a very
close relationship, and President Arroyo was in the U.S. recently
and received a very warm welcome. I think that this sort of thing
is very unfortunate but it is a matter for the U.S. legal system.
It is an internal issue in the U.S. and it is not something that will
affect our foreign relations. We hope and expect that the relationship
between the U.S. and the Philippines will continue to thrive as it
has in the past.
Q: Can you address
the issue of some of those who are upset about reports by your predecessor
over some of our officials here?
Ambassador Johnson: These alleged reports are part
of the case that has been brought against these two people and at
this stage it would not be appropriate to comment on the distorted
portions that have been reported in the Philippine press. It is not
appropriate because this investigation is still going on. I would
say, however, that the versions of the stories that have been reported
here are nowhere close to being accurate
Q: One of our Bishops
here, the Bishop of Lipa, says there might be American involvement
in all the political conflicts here. How do you answer this?
Ambassador Johnson: The United States and Philippines
enjoy very strong relations, and unfounded allegations of this kind
are certainly inappropriate and absolutely not correct.
