RP agrees to U.S. request on airports

RP agrees to U.S. request on airports

MANILA (AFP): The Philippines on Wednesday agreed to let the
U.S. government use its international airports if they were
needed in the transport of "non-combat" goods and personnel
following a massive terrorist attack in New York and Washington.

President Gloria Arroyo's spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said the
U.S. embassy asked its Southeast Asian military ally on Tuesday
night for "access" to its airports in case it was needed, and
that the president readily approved the request.

"They just sent word that they might have to transfer or move
or (use) an airport as transit for either evacuees or civilians
or goods," Tiglao told reporters.

"The customs or airport authorities will just have to
facilitate movements of goods," he said without elaborating.

"The U.S. government has sent word that they would want not
access to our airports, but facilitation of evacuees or the
movement of non-combat materials," he added.

"We're very willing and as the president said, she fully
supports U.S. President Bush's resolve to combat terrorism and to
track down the perpetrators," of Tuesday's attacks, Tiglao said.