蜜桃工作室

Despite rights issues, US to share assets, intel with PH to combat IS

David J. Glawe

David J. Glawe, US Department of Homeland Security undersecretary for intelligence and analysis (Photo by ANTHONY Q. ESGUERRA / 蜜桃工作室)

The United States has reiterated its commitment and support for the Philippines in defeating the Islamic State (IS), an international terror group also referred to the Islamic State Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and its sympathizers in the country.

A senior official of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the US would provide the Philippines assets it would request despite global concern on the human rights situation and rule of law in the country.

In fighting IS, David J. Glawe, DHS undersecretary for intelligence and analysis, said the Philippines would receive multi-faceted support and partnership from the US government.

鈥淵ou can expect a hundred percent of the assets of the US government that the Philippines would request,鈥 Glawe told reporters in an interview on Friday. 鈥淲e are committed to our partnership and friendship with the Philippines in our global fight against ISIS and Al-Qaeda.鈥

Glawe visited Manila to meet with Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II and the senior officials its attached agencies.

They discussed issues of 鈥渕utual concerns鈥 in the areas of drug enforcement, child trafficking, global terrorism and transnational crimes.

US Department of State recently tagged the Maute Group, which was behind the Marawi siege, as 鈥淚SIS-Philippines鈥 and designated them as foreign terrorist organization.

Glawe said the US and the Philippines had been sharing information 鈥渂ack and forth鈥 that would help address airline safety issues and passenger information.

鈥淲e know ISIS and Al-Qaeda continue to target aviation and the worse thing that could happen is if we had a successful attack on an airliner,鈥 he said.

He said the two countries are cooperating to address the vulnerabilities in the aviation security.

But the partnership between Manila and Washington, according to Glawe, is hinged on the rule of law and the humane treatment of people.

Asked if the US was concerned that the Philippine government would use American assets in its bloody war on drugs, the undersecretary said the rule of law is of utmost important.

鈥淲hen we partner with countries we also partner in the rule of law and humane treatment of people and that鈥檚 the benchmark of US law enforcement,鈥 he said.

Duterte stopped a multimillion helicopter deal with Canada after the latter ordered it reviewed amid concerns about the rights situation in the Philippines.

搁贰础顿:听Duterte cancels helicopter deal with Canada鈥檚 Bell

The Canadian government said it would not allow Bell to sell 16 helicopters, which were intended for humanitarian missions, to Manila if these would be used by soldiers 鈥渢o kill other Filipinos.鈥

The British government came under fire for reportedly selling spyware to the Philippines despite Duterte鈥檚 brutal war on drugs.

The Guardian posted on its website a story about the issue written by聽Hannah Ellis-Petersen:聽鈥.鈥

Criticizing United Kingdom鈥檚 arms export control, Labor MP Lloyed Russel-Moyle said the sale 鈥渕akes us complicit in the deaths of thousands of Filipinos.鈥

Press Attach茅 Molly Koscina, who was also present in the media roundtable, cited the Leahy vetting process.

The vetting process under the Leahy law of the US prohibits the State and Defense Departments from providing military assistance to foreign security forces that has committed gross violation of human rights.

When IS-inspired groups attacked Mindanao, Washington extended its support to the Philippines by providing counter-terror weapons to Philippine soldiers. The US also pledged aid in the rehabilitation of the war-torn Marawi City.

Last month, Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson announced that Manila has joined the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. /atm

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