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.