Revisiting Comments 25 Years After 9/11/01 - Part 46

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was President of the Philippines in September 2001 (January 20, 2001 -June 30, 2010).

November 19, 2001 
President Macapagal-Arroyo spoke to students at Georgetown University where she was a student in the 1960s. She talked about her government and the problems with terrorism in the Philippines. She was introduced by Mrs. Degioia, the wife of the university's president John Degioia   (Transcript from 19:50  to 25:20)

"I decided to participate in this campaign, because first, it is in our national interest. Second, it is a moral cause. Third, it is consistent with our Constitution and fourth, it is our obligation under the mutual defense treaty with the United States and under the United Nations.  

But beyond formal treaties there is in all of us a deep moral purpose that is more powerful than any legal instrument. It is our belief that evil must not be allowed to rule even one inch of this earth. That is the moral basis for our participation in the war against terrorism. 

What then are the specifics of our fight against terrorism. Some of them are symbolic. In Manilla we lowered our flags to half mast, we observed the National Day of Mourning, these symbolic acts bring us together as a nation and increase our unity. But soon after the attacks in the U.S. the Philippines took steps to carry out six specific, more substantive measures in support of the U.N. security Coalition Resolution...Security Council Resolution number thirteen sixty eight to combat terrorism. 

We joined the international counter-terrorist coalition and committed to work with the United Nations. 

We work closely with the United States by intelligence and security matters concerning terrorism. 

We make available our airspace and our ground facilities when required as transit refueling or staging points. 

And we commit that if there is an international call and ------ tells me there will be soon. To contribute logistical support in the form of food supply, medicine, and medical personnel. 

We committed to provide if there is an international call, and subject to the consent of our Congress, combat troops.

And we. stepped up our offensive against the terrorist groups in the southwestern part of the Philippines and prevented the flow of funds to them, by passing and implementing legislation against money laundering. 

We're also working with our neighbors, especially Malaysia and Indonesia, in an operational arrangement to fight terrorism, among our common borders and common seas. We work together with these neighbors to share intelligence and terrorism activities, by the control of our borders, and if needed. undertake joint peacekeeping operations. 

In our own country we pursue broad-based interfaith dialogue. To promote Christian and Muslim solidarity in the Philippines. Terrorists wish to instigate a religious war, but we must make this an opportunity to forge religious understanding, ecumenism, and solidarity. And I feel gratified in the results of this broad interfaith dialogue; because the political leaders of Muslim Mindanao have come up with a formal resolution supporting the Philippine position in joining the war against terrorism. The Olamas and other religions also came up with a resolution supporting the Philippine position against terrorism, and I appreciate the Olama;s for the religious leaders of Islam for that. Even the M.I.L.F., who are descensionists rebels, but with whom the Philippines is now engaged in very successful peace talks, in fact we have a cease fire with them. Even the M.I.L.F. have publicly disclaimed connections with Osama bin Ladin and. al Qaeda. 

Last month in Shanghai. President Bush and I joined with the other nineteen leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation process; in taking a firm stand against terrorism. In that leaders' meeting. I proposed ways by which APEC could continue to be relevant in this time of global terrorism. And I proposed a prioritizing of our cooperation to emphasize the campaign against terrorism in such areas as money laundering, aviation security, and cyber-crime. What we were fighting in isolation in southwestern Philippines is now a common fight. It is regrettable, but it takes a tragedy to bring the community of nations together, but it has. Now, with U.S. anti-terrorism technical assistance for the Philippines, I believe it is the beginning of the end of terrorists in southwestern Philippines and a new day in economic prosperity for our citizens.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

U.S.-Philippines Relations | November 19, 2001 | C-SPAN.org

Joint Statement Between the U.S. and the Philippines

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