Philippines’ leader must make changes —U.S. officials

Press, 6 October 1984, Page 11

Philippines’ leader must make changes —U.S. officials

NZPA-Reuter Washington

Communist insurgents could take power in the Philippines in the next decade unless the President, Mr Ferdinand Marcos, introduces basic reforms, a United States Assistant Secretary of Defence said yesterday. Richard Armitage told the House of Representatives sub-committee on foreign affairs that the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party, was gaining strength and popularity because of corruption and lack of leadership in the Government.

"Unless there is change, the N.P.A. could take over,” he said. “Assuming these current trends continue, that would be within a decade. Basic political, military and economic reforms are necessary before that change can take place,” Mr Armitage said.

A Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, John Monjo,. told the committee that' among the political reforms Washington wanted to see was a reduction of powers given to Mr Marcos under a Constitutional amendment to legislate by decree. “We also want to see greater competition in both the political and economic spheres,” he said. Mr Armitage said that a Communist victory would be quite devastating for the

United States “and extinguish the flame of democracy in the Philippines,” and bring another antiAmerican Government to power in South- east Asia, like Vietnam.

The Armed Forces had problems with leadership, equipment, mobility, and logistic support, and were in “dismal condition.” “There is a solid cadre of competent, patriotic officers in the A.F.P. (Armed Forces of the Philippines) who have the determination to institute the necessary reforms and turn the N.P.A. tide.”

The Philippines had reacted to the threat with a growing concentration on counter-insurgency and had abandoned requests for sophisticated American

weaponry in favour oi “move, shoot, and communicate items.”

Advocating continued United States support for the Manila Government, Mr Armitage said, “The question is: do we write off the A.F.P. as being hopelessly corrupt and ineffective, or do we provide adequate moral material and training support to a military institution that we established and nurtured. “We find it in our national interest and that of the Philippines to urge that Congress provide the full amount of security assistance funds requested by the Administration.”

Mr Armitage said that the N.P.A. had grown to a strength of around 10,000 armed men and had influence in about 20 per cent of Philippines villages. There was no evidence that it had received any significant external support. Charles Greenleaf, of the United States Agency for International Development, said that Washington advocated a break-up of monopolies in the Philippines, particularly of sugar and coconuts, to allow farmers higher incomes. All three officials said that there was truth to assertions that Mr Marcos had given great economic advantages to friends and relatives and that reforms were necessary to eliminate that source of disenchantment.