Philippines may buy fighters other than US

The Philippines is looking at arming itself for the first time with dedicated fighter jets made outside of the United States, President Benigno Aquino said Wednesday amid a territorial dispute with China.

The Philippines last month requested aircraft, patrol boats and radar systems from its US military ally to help it achieve what the government said would be a "minimum credible defence".

Aquino said that his government had asked to buy second-hand F-16s from the United States, but their maintenance costs could end up being too high because of their age.

"We might end up spending $400 million or $800 million per squadron, and we were thinking of getting two squadrons," he said in an interview with Manila's Bombo Radio.

"We do have an alternative, and -- this is a surprise -- it seems we have the capacity to buy brand-new, but not from America," Aquino said, without mentioning the aircraft model.

"These are manufactured by another progressive country that I won't name at this point."
Aquino noted that Manila had retired its last fighter jet, a Korean War-vintage F-5, in 2005. It does continue to fly S211 trainer jets made by the Italian firm Marchetti, which are sometimes used as ground attack aircraft against various insurgencies.

But along with the F-5, the Philippines had previously relied on obsolete US hand-me-downs including the T-33 and the P-51 Mustang as dedicated attack fighters, and the country now has no effective air defences.

It is engaged in a tense maritime standoff with China over the disputed Scarborough Shoal and surrounding waters in the South China Sea. Both nations have stationed vessels there for over a month to assert their sovereignty.

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AFP News/Yahoo News Online | May 16, 2012 | Article Link

Government to modernize AFP using own resources - DND

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of National Defense (DND) said yesterday that the government is trying to modernize its military using its own resources amid criticisms that the $30-million support offered by the United States is insufficient.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the government should not be too dependent on external sources in beefing up its security capabilities.

“We’re not beggars. We are poor but we certainly will not beg,” Gazmin said during the Defense Press Corps forum in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

“We should not be relying so much insofar as our acquisition and upgrade of our military equipment is concerned. If they (US) will give us something, okay, then we stand on our own. We try to stand on our own,” he added.

Gazmin was asked to react to criticisms that the $30-million foreign military financing offered by the US to the Philippines is too small.

The US reportedly doubled to $30 million from $15 million the military assistance allocation for the Philippines for fiscal year 2012.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, however, said the amount was inadequate and insulting. He said the amount was too small, considering that the US has been benefiting from its relationship with the Philippines.

“If it is just $30 million, if I were the government of President Aquino, I would say thank you but I don’t need $30 million. We can provide that $30 million for ourselves,” Enrile told dzBB last Sunday.

He said it appears that the Philippines is begging alms from the US.

Meanwhile, Gazmin said the military is considering acquiring a warship from Italy.

“We are not totally relying on the US. We will get other equipment to address our military upgrade. The good equipment that fits our budget (would be bought),” he said, when asked to confirm reports that a third warship would be acquired from Europe.

“We are looking at Europe, yes, we are looking specifically at Italy,” he added.

Last year, the military acquired its first high-endurance cutter from the US Coast Guard to beef up its maritime security capability.

The warship, which has been renamed BRP Gregorio del Pilar, has been deployed to the West Philippine Sea. The Philippine government spent P450 million for the ship’s transfer costs.

A second warship, the 45-year-old USS Dallas, has been offered to the Philippines and is expected to arrive in Manila this year.

Gazmin said he asked the United States to provide the equipment removed from the BRP del Pilar during the two-plus-two meet in Washington last April 30.

The two-plus-two meet was attended by Gazmin, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, US State Secretary Hillary Clinton and US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

The US removed some of BRP Gregorio del Pilar’s accessories before it was turned over to the Philippines.

Some of the features stripped from the ship were the sensors, communications and electronics equipment, and close-in weapons system.

Gazmin hopes the USCGC Dallas will be turned over to the Philippines in its original state, including its vital equipment and accessories.

He said the Philippine government has also asked the US to provide radar systems that would allow it to monitor its maritime boundaries.

The DND, however, is not keen on acquiring F16 jet fighters.

“F16 is an aging air asset. If they (US) give us those that are mothballed, you will have to refurbish them. It will cost too much. If the remaining flying time is just three or four years, you are shortchanged,” Gazmin said.

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Alexis Romero | The Philippine Star | May 10, 2012 | Article Link

AFP still banking on US to secure Phl from threats

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), despite its modernization program, will have to rely on its allies, particularly the United States, to secure and protect the country from external threats.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin made this admission during the launching of the Defense Press Forum at Camp Aguinaldo yesterday.

“We are now seeking from the US a minimum credible defense to prevent any powerful states from bullying us,” Gazmin said, referring to naval and air assets.

The government earlier said it is interested in acquiring a squadron of F-16 fighters from the US.

Gazmin said the planned acquisition is under review since the fighter jets are being phased out from the US Air Force inventory.

The US fighter jets might have limited flying hours left, he pointed out.

“Before we can have these fighter jets, we must also send our pilots for training. So it’s better to acquire first the so-called lead fighter jets,” Gazmin said.

The defense department also plans to acquire fighter jets from South Korea.

Gazmin assured the public that the military upgrade program is not directed at any country. “We are doing this in order to safeguard our own territory,” he said.

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Jaime Laude | The Philippine Star | April 4, 2012 | Article Link 

Defense not keen on purchase of US fighter jets

MANILA, Philippines - Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin expressed reservations over the country’s plans to purchase old F-16 fighter jets from the United States, as earlier announced by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.

"The F-16 (acquisition) is still being studied because the F-16s are old in the inventory. If they give that to us, we have to upgrade them and after upgrading, we'll look at the flying hours left," Gazmin told reporters.

He said the Philippines will only feel short-changed if after the upgrade, “the flying hours left is one or two years.”

He noted a pilot will have to be trained for two years to fly a jet, he said. 

He said the country does not have jet pilots. The Air Force used to have F-5 fighter jets but these were decommissioned due to high maintenance costs.

The Cabinet secretaries are due to meet with US defense Secretary Leon Paneta and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Washington later this month.

They will seek “minimum defense posture” which, Gazmin said, are equipment needed so that the Philippines will not be "pushed around by those who want to bully us." 

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ABS-CBNnews.com | April 3, 2012 | Article Link

Manila offers U.S. wider military access, seeks weapons

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is offering the United States greater access to its airfields and may open new areas for soldiers to use, as the Pacific country seeks stronger military ties with its closest ally, moves likely to further raise tensions with China.

In exchange for opening its bases, the Philippines will ask Washington for more military equipment and training, including a another Hamilton-class warship and possibly a squadron of old F-16 jet fighters, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario told Reuters on Thursday.

"As part of building up our minimum credible defence posture, we would like the Americans to come more often," del Rosario said in an interview at his office near Manila Bay.

Manila favours more frequent joint military drills, he said. One such exercise, which will be staged on western island Palawan for the first time, is scheduled for April 16.

"Let's have these joint training exercises more frequently and on a bigger scale. As many times as we can, in different places if we can, that's the objective of the exercise," del Rosario said, the first official confirmation of talks between the countries on increasing the U.S. military presence in the Philippines.

Disputes in the South China Sea are Southeast Asia's biggest security concern after a series of naval clashes over the vast region believed to be rich in energy reserves.
Chinese navy ships threatened to ram a Philippine research vessel last March, prompting Manila to scramble planes and ships to the area. After that, Philippine President Benigno Aquino started building closer ties with Washington, which has signalled a military "pivot" back to Asia.

Del Rosario said the possible purchase of F-16s and the request for a third cutter for the coast guard would be among issues up for discussion at a meeting between the two sides on April 30 in Washington.

The U.S. is also looking into gaining access, under a "joint use" arrangement, to around half a dozen civilian airfields in the Philippines, where U.S. transports, fighters and spy planes can land for repairs, refuelling and temporary deployment.

The talks, between among foreign and defence leaders, will precede a meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and Philippine President Benigno Aquino later this year.

Intelligence partners
 
In the last 10 years, the Philippines has received about 22 billion pesos ($512.22 million) in U.S. military aid, Del Rosario said.

Washington is Manila's closest and only strategic security partner, since the two countries signed a mutual defence treaty six years after the Philippines won its independence from the United States.

Del Rosario said he welcomed closer intelligence cooperation in the South China Sea, after the U.S. last year proposed deploying P3C Orion reconnaissance planes to patrol disputed areas of the South China Sea.

"I think any method of cooperation that will provide us additional intelligence in terms of maritime domain awareness is good for us. The more information, the better," he said.
Australia said on Wednesday it could allow U.S. spy flights to operate from a remote Indian Ocean island.

Manila hopes China will not feel threatened by its increased defence cooperation with Washington.

"We expressed our satisfaction when China was in the process of building up its military, increasing its military budget," Del Rosario said.

"We expect that China, in the same way, would be happy to be able to see the Philippines trying to, in some measure, build up its own capabilities to be able to protect its own sovereignty."

The United States deploys about 600 commandos in the southern Philippine. Del Rosario said it was possible there would be an increase in the number of U.S. troops, aircraft and ships visiting the Philippines, but the two sides were not discussing setting up permanent U.S. bases in the country.

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Manuel Mogato & Rosemarie Francisco | Reuters | ABS-CBNNews.Com | March 30,2012 | Link

Czech Republic may give Phl defense equipment

MANILA, Philippines - The Czech Republic yesterday expressed interest in providing the Philippines with defense equipment to modernize its military and improve the national defense capability.

Visiting First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Karel Schwarzenberg told a press conference that the two countries have discussed what equipment the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) would need and the defense supplies his country can offer, like planes, small arms and Czech pistols.

“We are in talks on the need of the Philippines. We offer products. We are very much interested in this area because we have several products,” Schwarzenberg said.

“There are special guns for the army which are very good quality.”

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the Czech Republic is ready to provide defense suppliers for the Philippine military modernization.

“I think the minister said it can go as huge as airplanes and as small as smallest firearms but I don’t have details on that,” Del Rosario also told the news conference.

The Philippines is also exploring other means of military assistance and cooperation from the United States.

Washington has assured the Philippines help in obtaining F-16 jet fighters to improve the country’s defense capability.

Del Rosario earlier said that the Philippines’ plan to obtain a squadron of F-16 was discussed on Feb. 10 in a meeting with Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Andrew J. Shapiro in Manila.

Shapiro visited the country to consult with senior civilian and military officials on further enhancing defense and security cooperation for the mutual benefit of the US and the Philippines.

Shapiro said the Philippines indicated that the country wants to take a good look at that option. The US said they would look for those units and help the Philippines assess the cost so that the country can plan accordingly.

The US has expressed willingness to help the Philippines obtain a squadron of F-16s.

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Pia Lee-Brago | The Philippine Star | March 25, 2012 | Article Link

Philippines' Aquino says more US troops welcome

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine President Benigno Aquino said Tuesday more US troops would be welcome to rotate through the Southeast Asian nation, but ruled out permanent bases.

Aquino told AFP in an interview that talks were under way for the longtime allies to hold more military training exercises in the Philippines, as well as increase the number of times that US navy ships visited.

"We are talking with them. We will have more of the same, is what I am trying to say," Aquino said, referring to a longstanding partnership that sees regular joint exercises and US port calls in the Philippines.

"Their ships can come and call on us, can be replenished, but our constitution will not allow any permanent berthing here in any form.

"There might be increases in terms of personnel, but it will have to be very clear on when they come in and go out. They can not be here permanently."

The negotiations come as the United States is expanding its military presence in the Asia Pacific as a counterweight to rising China, having brokered a deal with Australia to place more troops there.

It is also expecting to station several combat ships in Singapore and step up deployments in Thailand, the chief of US naval operations, Admiral Jonathan Greenert, wrote in December.

Aquino said the Philippines was at the same time looking to the United States for help in building up its defence capabilities, amid a maritime territorial dispute with China and a host of other security issues.

The Philippines had asked the United States for F-16 fighter jets, as well as patrol vessels, transport aircraft and radar systems.

"They are still studying the request for the excess F16s. We are hoping they will look at it favourably," he said. 
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Agence France Presse | Interaksyon.Com | March 20, 2012 | Article Link

Military rethinks F-16 acquisition

THE military is rethinking its planned acquisition of F-16 fighter jets from the United States owing to various reasons, foremost of which are the maintenance and cost.

This was disclosed by Maj. Gen. Lauro Catalino de la Cruz, Air Force commander, during the turnover of four W-3A Sokol Combat utility helicopters to the Air Force in Clark Field, Pampanga, over the weekend.

He said that while the F-16s are among the military’s options, the Armed Forces high command is also seriously looking into the fighter jet’s acquisition cost and the cost of their maintenance.

“The F-16 is just one of the options. We are looking whether it will be beneficial for us in terms of cost, in terms of lifespan because it is also already secondhand,” de la Cruz said.

The US fighter jet has initially become the “aircraft of choice” by the military under its modernization program, with no less than Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin earlier announcing it was being considered for the Philippine skies.

The F-16 “Fighting Falcon” is a multirole jet fighter built by General Dynamics for the US Air Force. Designed as an air superiority fighter, it has evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft.

De la Cruz said the US fighter is just one of the many platforms the Air Force is considering along with other aircraft of such type.

In January Gazmin unveiled his plan to modernize the military through the procurement of tanks, long-range patrol aircraft, modern vessels, radar systems and jet fighters.

Until last week, he said they have not come up with any particular product yet despite the continued scouting for hardware, which already took a team from the Department of National Defense to Italy.

Still, the defense chief said the contracts for the modernization project should be finished within the middle part of this year or by November at the latest.

Washington had asked the government to come up with specifics on its shopping list with the US, and this was reportedly one of the reasons the bilateral talks originally scheduled this month had been moved to April 30.

During the turnover of the Sokol helicopters, de la Cruz said combat utility helicopters should provide the Air Force with increased capability to provide battlefield coverage to ground forces.

He said the arrival of the helicopters and the other materiél should scratch the hurting joke that they only have “air” and “no force.”

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Rene Acosta | Reporter | BusinessMirror.Com.Ph | Article Link

Military finalizing plan to acquire 1 squadron of F-16 fighter jets

A RANKING military officer said the Armed Forces high command is already discussing the details on the procurement of one squadron of F-16 “Fighting Falcon” jet fighters from the US.

Maj. Gen. Roy Deveraturda, Armed Forces deputy chief of staff for plans and programs (J-5) said although the acquisition of jet fighters was not included in the first batch of approved big-ticket items the project is now being discussed thoroughly.

“Since we decommissioned our [fighter] jets in 1995 there had been a long gap. So we need [jet] fighter capability. We’re proposing the procurement of at least one squadron. We are talking here of 14 to 24 F-16s,” Deveraturda said.

Earlier, reports said the Department of the Foreign Affairs (DFA) had already started negotiations with the US government for the acquisition of F-16.

But Deveraturda said the Armed Forces has no update yet about the ongoing process of negotiations. 

Earlier, the military announced that four of the eight utility helicopters, that were bought by the previous administration under the Armed Forces Modernization Program, are already in the country.     Deveraturda said four of the eight Sokol (Falcon) helicopters from Polish-Italian defense supplier Augusta PZL Swidnik have arrived at Clark Field in Pampanga and are now being assembled.

“The four utility helicopters will soon be inspected by the Air Force. These are a great addition to our capability, and we hope to use them soon,” Deveraturda said.

He said the remaining four are being expected to be delivered at the third quarter of this year.

Deveraturda said the delivery of the four helicopters set into concrete action the eight-year modernization program that Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin charted for the Armed Forces.

Gazmin wants to acquire armored vehicles, radar systems, missile-guided and multi-role vessels and aircraft that include fighter jets under the program with a projected total cost of at least P70 billion.

Since the amount needed is too large, he said the acquisition will be pursued through a Congress-approved Multi-Year Obligation Agreement (MYOA), with a government to government as the procurement mode.

Deveraturda said the military is also hoping to sign the contract for the delivery of another Hamilton class cutter from the United States until March this year.

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ZAFF SOLMERIN / CORRESPONDENT

THURSDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2012 20:28

Bussiness Mirror

Link

RP jet fighter purchase nixed

Manila, Philippines – Instead of submitting a wish list that would include acquisition of fighter jets and modern military hardware, the Philippines should ask the US government to supply it with cargo aircraft, choppers, and sea transport to beef up its relief operations and defense against natural calamities.

Muntinlupa City Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, chairman of the House Committee on National Defense, backed this proposal by saying that confrontation with typhoons, earthquakes, and other natural disasters are more imminent compared to a threat of war over the dispute for West Philippine Sea (also known as the South China Sea) territories against China.

This developed as the Movement 188 and other members of the House of Representatives agreed to donate P1 million to the victims of the earthquake that hit Central Visayas.

Aside from the convenors of Movement 188, House Speaker Feliciano R. Belmonte Jr. and Region 6 congressmen will also contribute to the fund.

Movement 188 convenors who will contribute to the fund are Reps. Maricar Zamora-Apsay (Compostella Valley), Joy Bernos (Abra), Bem Noel (An Waray), Rodel Batocabe (Ako Bicol), Ben Evardone (Eastern Samar), Cesar Sarmiento (Catanduanes), Mel Sarmiento (Western Samar), Roger Espina (Biliran), Maximo Dalog (Mountain Province), Roy Loyola (Cavite), Carlo Lopez (Manila), Leo Ocampos (Misamis Occidental), Rene Relampagos (Bohol), and Nancy Catamco (North Cotabato).

Movement 188 is the group of congressmen who signed the Articles of Impeachment against Chief Justice Renato C. Corona.

“The effect of the recent quake to the people in the Negros-Cebu region is truly heartbreaking. It is imperative that we join together and consolidate our efforts to help our brothers and sisters that were affected by this tragedy,” Rep. Alfredo “Albee” B. Benitez said.

Benitez, whose district was affected by the recent earthquake, led the initiative of the members of the House of Representatives. He contributed P500,000 from his personal resources and the other half came from the other convenors of the Movement 188 and the district representatives from Region 6.

Biazon’s made his recommendation as the country’s defense leadership confirmed that talks for increased US military presence in the Philippines have been set in a bid to guarantee peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region despite reports of China’s military build up near the disputed West Philippine Sea areas.

“But our level of concern is internal security, protection of our exclusive economic zone, protection of our Malampaya. We need to secure these through acquisition of modern military hardware. But I am going to reject fighter jets,” he said.

A former senator and Defense chief, Biazon said the Philippines requires additional patrol boats but it also need air and sea cargo transportation for quick response to areas severely afflicted by calamitous events.

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Ben R. Rosario

Tempo.Com.Ph

Feb 11th, 2012

Link

Philippine Navy to get 2nd warship from US

 WASHINGTON, DC—United States lawmakers have backed efforts by the Obama administration to forge a stronger relationship with the Philippines and said Congress will soon approve the transfer of a second ship to help the ally’s navy defend its waters.

Republican Representative Ed Royce told a House of Representatives foreign affairs subcommittee hearing on US-Philippine relations that the congressional review process for transferring the Coast Guard Cutter Dallas will be finished this week, and the ship should soon be on its way to the Philippines.

Another aging US cutter, the Hamilton, was transferred to the Philippines last May, since renamed the BRP Gregorio del Pilar.

The US has sought to boost the Philippines’ ability to maintain its maritime security because of its ally’s concern over assertive Chinese behavior in disputed waters of the West Philippine Sea (or the South China Sea).

‘No claims’

While the United States has no territorial claims in the region, the top US diplomat for East Asia, Kurt Campbell, reiterated that the US has a national interest in such claims’ peaceful resolution and the freedom of navigation in seas that carry about a half the total tonnage of world trade.

Campbell said the US is considering a “reasonable” Philippine request also to transfer gear stripped from the Hamilton before it was handed over.

The US took the sensors from the ship before it was decommissioned, as well as its communications and electronics equipment, and close-in weapons system, which is used to detect and destroy at short range incoming antiship missiles and enemy aircraft.

The ship, commissioned in 1967, was transferred under a program that offers “excess defense articles” to foreign partners in support of US national security and foreign policy objectives.

Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense Peter Lavoy said the Hamilton had completed on Monday its first patrol in the vicinity of the Spratly group of islands.

Noncommital of F-16s

Asked about possible Philippine acquisition of F-16 fighter jets, Lavoy was noncommital. He said the US was considering a range of military capabilities requested by the Philippines, and “affordability and sustainability” would be critical in evaluating them.

Campbell, who stressed the importance of stronger economic ties, spoke in gushing terms about the bilateral relationship with the Philippines, one of five US treaty allies in Asia.

“There’s no country in Asia that’s more welcoming to the United States, more supportive of a stronger relationship and more on our side, rooting for us every step of the way,” he said.

He described President Benigno Aquino III as a person of “rare integrity” and lauded his efforts to fight corruption.

The two Republican lawmakers who spoke at the hearing supported administration efforts to strengthen ties. Royce said the Philippines had been largely ignored in US foreign policy in recent years, but that was starting to change.

Representative Dana Rohrabacher, an arch critic of China, praised the joint US-Philippine efforts to fight Islamic militants in the southern Philippines. For the past decade, hundreds of US forces have helped equip and train Filipino forces there.

Rohrabacher described an air strike last week that killed a leader of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, for which the US shared intelligence, as a victory against radical Islam.

“We need to stand as aggressively and as solidly with the Philippine government in confronting an aggressive, arrogant, expansionist China as we have in standing against radical Islam,” he said.

The US will soon give a second Coast Guard cutter to the Philippines as part of efforts to boost the ally’s military amid tensions at sea with China, officials said Wednesday.

The US last year transferred its Hamilton cutter to the Philippines, which made it the flagship of its notoriously dilapidated navy and recently sent it on a mission to the disputed Spratly islands.

Lawmakers will this week conclude formalities to send to the Philippines, a former US colony another cutter, the Dallas, Representative Ed Royce and senior Pentagon official Peter Lavoy told a congressional hearing.

“It should soon be on its way to Manila,” said Royce, a Republican from southern California whose district has a significant Filipino American community.

“The US and the Philippines want peace and stability in this region, which is key to the global economy,” Royce said as he chaired the hearing of a House foreign affairs subcommittee.

The Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries have accused China of bellicose behavior over disputes in the South China Sea. Despite historical sensitivities about US troops, the Philippines has said it would welcome further rotations by US forces on its soil and more joint exercises.

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 AP and AFP

Philippine Daily Inquirer

2:09 am | Thursday, February 9th, 2012

Link

Philippines asks US lawmakers' help for Cutters, F-16s

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario on Saturday sought help from United States lawmakers in acquiring new equipment for "territorial defense."

Del Rosario followed up the Philippines' request for such equipment during a meeting with a seven-member United States congressional delegation.

A news release posted on the DFA website early Sunday said del Rosario stressed "the Philippines' urgent need for additional Weather High Endurance  Cutters (WHEC) and a squadron of F-16s."

He cited measures being undertaken by the Aquino administration to "respect human rights and the rule of law and end the culture of impunity."

Leading the delegation was US House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Rep. Harold Rogers.

Other members of the delegation included Reps. Norman Dicks, Ander Crenshaw, Rodney Alexander, Steven LaTourette, Tom Cole, and Michael Simpson.

Among the issues covered during the meeting were the West Philippine Sea and the need to enhance Philippine maritime domain awareness, trade and economic relations, human rights, ASEAN and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and security in the Asia-Pacific region.

During the meeting, del Rosario also sought the American legislators' support on the enactment into law of the Save Our Industries Act (SAVE Act).

This would be a "win-win" proposition because it will increase U.S. textile exports and Philippine garment exports, he said.

Also, the SAVE Act aims to slash US tariffs on certain categories on Philippine-produced garments made of U.S. fabrics or yarns.

The DFA release said the US legislators committed to discuss these issues with the members of the U.S. executive branch and "keep an eye on them."

"Certainly we can attest to the fact that this administration is doing all it can to right the wrongs of the past. We want you to know that we want you to achieve your goals," it quoted Rogers as saying.

Present at the meeting was US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. — LBG, GMA News
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January 15, 2012 10:22am
GMA News Online
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