Washington supports Arroyo govt: Hubbard

Washington supports Arroyo govt: Hubbard

MANILA (AP): The United States recognizes and supports the new
administration of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, a
U.S. official said on Friday.

"We in the United States watched the developments here in the
Philippines closely and we recognized that the Filipino people
have spoken and that we very much support the government that she
has," said Thomas Hubbard, assistant secretary of state for East
Asian and Pacific affairs.

Hubbard, a former U.S. ambassador to Manila, said he had a
"very nice and very good conversation" with Arroyo and Vice
President Teofisto Guingona, who is also foreign secretary.

Arroyo took her oath as the 14th president on Jan. 20, the day
Joseph Estrada was forced from the Malacanang presidential palace
as thousands massed outside to demand his resignation over
corruption allegations.

Estrada claims he is still president and Arroyo is merely
acting president. He said he left Malacanang to prevent
bloodshed, and denies any wrongdoing.

The Supreme Court voted 13-0 this month to recognize Arroyo as
president and stripped Estrada of immunity. He appealed. The
Philippines has close political and military ties with the United
States, which was once its colonizer.

Three days after taking the oath as president, Arroyo received
a call from U.S. President George W. Bush. They swapped
congratulations in a brief chat.

Arroyo invited Bush to Manila this year to celebrate the 50th
anniversary of the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.

Next month, U.S. and Philippine troops will hold joint
military exercises, the second in the Philippines since senators
approved in 1999 an accord allowing renewed large-scale exercises
and U.S. ship visits.

Members of a U.S. business delegation, winding up a three-day
visit on Friday, said they were impressed with Arroyo's handling
of the economy and Filipino workers' growing reputation for
quality.

Philippine American Chamber of Commerce Chairman John Howley
said delegation members promised not only to put more money in
the country, but also to promote the Philippines as a good
investment destination for American businesses.

"The water here is fine. We hope to be swimming here soon,"
said Howley, who headed the 22-member delegation comprising
mainly senior executives.

Howley said the executives called Arroyo honest and
intelligent, and said she speaks the language of business.
Spectrum Technology Corp. President Sam Higgins said his company
will soon finalize its offer to the Philippines to help explore
and develop oil and gas reserves here.

Lysander Salcedo, country manager for software concern
Computer Associates, said his company plans to make the
Philippines its regional hub for software development,
acknowledging the high quality output of information technology
workers.