Top US Defense Official Emphasizes Importance of RP-US Partnership
At a dinner hosted by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy
C. Gaa and Mrs. Erlinda Gaa at the Ambassador’s residence for a number
of top-ranking officials of the US Department of Defense on 07 January
2008, Defense Deputy Secretary Gordon England stressed the continuing
importance that the United States gives to its partnership with the
Philippines.
Responding to the toast make by Ambassador Gaa, Defense Deputy Secretary
England expressed deep appreciation for the Philippines’ promotion of
democracy and emphasized the importance of Philippines-US friendship and
alliance. The top Pentagon official said that “no nation is so great
that it alone could preserve democracy; and no nation is too small that
it could not contribute to this goal.”
Defense Deputy Secretary Gordon England is the second highest-ranking
official of the US Department of Defense.
The other guests at the dinner included: 1 four-star, 3 three-star
admirals, and 1 three-star general and top civilian officials of the
Department of Defense.
This is the first time in many years that the Philippine Ambassador has
had the honor of hosting a dinner for the second highest-ranking
official of the US Department of Defense.
The other US military and other officials at the dinner were: Deputy
Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Hon. James
Clad; Special Assistant to the Defense Undersecretary for Policy Hon.
Michael Coulter; Special Assistant for International Affairs to the
Deputy Secretary of Defense Mr. Hesham Islam; Commandant of the US
Marine Corps Gen. James Conway; Director of the Defense Security
Cooperation Agency Vice Admiral Jeffrey Wieringa; Director of the
Defense Intelligence Agency Lt. Gen. Michael Maples; Chief of the US
Navy Reserve Vice Admiral John Cotton and Director of the US Navy’s Air
Warfare Division Vice Admiral Allen Myers.
In his dinner toast, Ambassador Gaa said that “coming at the start of
the year, the occasion augurs well for renewing the bonds of friendship
between the US and the Philippines.” He stressed that the alliance
between the two countries, which began during the Second World War,
remains strong in today’s global war on terror. The envoy also mentioned
that the Philippines has been cited by various officials in the US
government as a model in US partnership on counterterrorism that other
countries should emulate. Ambassador Gaa expressed confidence that the
mutually beneficial Philippines-US partnership will hurdle whatever
challenges it faces, and will endure in the years ahead, since it is
based on a shared commitment to democratic ideals.
Ambassador Gaa was joined by other Philippine Embassy officers, namely,
Minister Carlos Sorreta; Political Officer Patricia Ann Paez; Defense
and Armed Forces Attache Maj. Gen. Roberto Sylim; Army Attache Col.
Rolando Tenefrancia; and Naval Attache Capt. Rolando Recomono. END.
Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England delivering his dinner toast where he reiterated the great importance the US gives to its partnership with the Philippines.
Ambassador and Mrs. Gaa receiving the gift presented by Deputy
Defense Secretary England to commemorate the evening’s activity; with
them is Philippine Defense Attaché Maj. Gen. Sylim.
(Seated L-R) Defense Deputy Secretary Gordon England, Mrs. Erlinda Gaa and Ambassador Willy C. Gaa. (Standing L-R) Philippine Army Attache Col. Rolando Tenefrancia; Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense for International Affairs Mr. Hesham Islam; Political Officer Patricia Ann Paez; Minister Carlos Sorreta; Special Assistant to the Defense Undersecretary for Policy Michael Coulter; Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency Lt. Gen. Michael Maples; Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Southeast Asia Mr. James Clad; Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency Vice Admiral Jeffrey Wieringa; Commandant of the US Marine Corps Gen. James Conway; Chief of the US Navy Reserve Vice Admiral John Cotton; and Director of US Navy’s Air Warfare Division Vice Admiral Allen Myers; Philippine Defense Attache Maj. Gen Roberto Sylim; Philippine Navy Attache Capt. Rolando Recomono