Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert today said that although the US government has given a reply to the concerns raised by the Philippines on the telecoms issue, she was not satisfied with the reply. 

“We have stated our concerns in a forthright and clear manner to the US government.  They have replied by saying that the action was not meant to embarrass the Philippine government.  They have assured us that the executives would be treated well, that all their rights would be respected and that all expenses related to their appearance before the Grand Jury will be shouldered by the US government.  However, they have also said that as the Grand Jury is currently carrying out its investigation, they will be unable to make specific comments on the case,” Secretary Albert said.

The Secretary also said that the Philippine government is not quite satisfied with these replies and will insist that the US address “our grave concern, and that concern continues to be : why a criminal investigation was initiated when negotiations were going so well.  This is something that the US government must address and we intend to continue to pursue this matter with the utmost vigor.”

The Department reiterated this position yesterday in a joint hearing before the Senate Committees on Foreign Relations and Public Services. Assistant Secretary for American Affairs Ariel Abadilla told the Senate hearing that “The Philippine Government continues to be gravely concerned over the decision of the US Department of Justice to launch a Grand Jury investigation over a matter that was clearly headed towards a negotiated solution.  Government and telecommunications companies from both sides had been working to reach a
resolution that would be acceptable to all.  We had come to the point that our telecommunications companies were already signing agreements that would have set aside their differences.”

Assistant Secretary Abadilla appeared before the Senate Committees on behalf of Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert who was in Davao, meeting with over 300 women from Mindanao on the role of women in peace and conflict resolution.

Assistant Secretary Abadilla also told the Senate Committees that “Clearly, even as we were negotiating in good faith, the US Department of Justice was preparing to initiate a criminal investigation. It is under these circumstances that we find particularly disconcerting the service of subpoenas on our telecommunications executives in Hawaii.”

Secretary Albert told reporters today that she welcomes the interest shown by the Senate in this issue and that she looks forward to working with the Senate Committees on Foreign Relations and Public Services in dealing with this matter.

“During the hearing yesterday, the Chairpersons of the two Committees raised very important points relating to Philippine laws that might have to be passed and laws that might have to be amended, not only to address this issue but also to strengthen the protection given to our consumers.  These are points that are very well taken and the Department will provide its full support for these initiatives,” Secretary Albert added. END.