*NO DIPLOMATIC PROTEST ON US RESPONSE TO SENATE ARREST WARRANT* 

14 September 2006, London - Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo today said he has the greatest respect for the views expressed by the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago and will always take into serious consideration the advice of the Senator. 

Secretary Romulo was referring to a news report quoting Senator Santiago as saying that the Bolante case should have been handled by the Foreign Ministries of both countries. 

In the news report, Senator Santiago had pointed out that international and diplomatic law provides that relations between states are to be carried out through diplomatic channels before any action on the request of another branch of government is acted upon. 

The Secretary made this statement as he clarified that the Department is not planning to file a diplomatic protest over the matter. 

When asked by reporters, the Secretary replied that the views of the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, who is also a constitutional and international law expert, is important and ought to be listened to.

END

/jay

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