[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 83 (Thursday, June 14, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H3185-H3186]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TROUBLE IN THE PHILIPPINES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I want to draw the House's attention 
today to the events that are unfolding in the Philippines, an area that 
is only 3 hours by flying time to my home island of Guam.
  I am troubled by the recent events unraveling in the Philippines in 
regards to the allegations that the Abu Sayyef, a band of separatists 
from the southern Philippines, have kidnapped and have killed an 
American, this is still unconfirmed, and are holding some 20 more 
people, including two other Americans, as hostages.
  I happened to be in Manila on an official visit over the Memorial Day 
recess when this tragedy occurred. As the lead official from the U.S. 
at the time in the Philippines, I participated in a number of meetings 
which were designed to try to help deal with the crisis as well as many 
other issues that were affecting Philippine-U.S. relations.
  Today, I would certainly urge each and every American to continue to 
support President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her heroic and courageous 
efforts during this very tense standoff. She has made it clear up till 
now that

[[Page H3186]]

she intends to stand firm and not pay any ransom for this most recent 
rash of kidnappings in her country.
  The United States and the Philippines have a very long and proud 
history of friendship and cooperation, although not always in agreement 
on each and every issue, thus punctuating the need to continue to work 
closely with the Philippines in helping them resolve this internal 
crisis.
  I understand that the new administration's, President Bush's 
administration, strategy review is expected to cast the Asian Pacific 
region as perhaps the single most important region for military 
planners. I cannot agree with this renewed focus more. Of course it 
will bring more attention, not only to my home island of Guam, but to 
our relationship with the Philippines.
  While in Manila, I met with President Arroyo, participated in a 
series of discussions with Vice President Guingona, who is also 
concurrently the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, about the implementation 
of the visiting forces agreement between the U.S. and the Philippines 
which was formulated in 1999.

                              {time}  1415

  This positive step forward hopefully will revive and reinvigorate the 
security relationship between our two countries, which has declined 
following the U.S. withdrawal from the military bases there in 1992.
  I also drew attention to some of the cleanup issues that are 
remaining from Clark Air Force Base and Subic Bay Naval Station, 
formerly U.S. sites, which I also visited. I think it is important that 
we have a clear understanding of the problems that continue to exist. 
Last month, the House passed my amendment to the foreign relations 
authorization bill, which encourages a nongovernmental study to examine 
environmental contamination and any health effects emanating from these 
former U.S. facilities. I want to make clear that the United States is 
not legally required to provide cleanup, but we continue to have a 
moral obligation to at least investigate and do what we can.
  A new study on May 14 by the RAND organization entitled ``U.S. and 
Asia--Toward a New U.S. Strategy and Force Posture'' reinforces the 
current administration's thinking by outlining the importance of an 
engaged United States in the Asia-Pacific theater. This study argues 
that the U.S. engage in new relationships with the Philippines and with 
Guam. Specifically, the study reports that the U.S. should expand 
cooperation with the Philippines and that the Philippines may present 
an interesting opportunity to enhance Air Force access in the western 
Pacific. I could not agree any more with that study.
  The Philippines is an important country to the United States, not 
only because of our long historical relationship but because of our new 
strategic posture and challenges that we face in this century. I urge 
all House Members to consider this information and to consider this 
important piece of our puzzle, our strategy puzzle, in the Asia-Pacific 
region.

                          ____________________