TOP US DEFENCE 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.
(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
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.
(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
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Copyright© 2007 Filipino Image. All rights Reserved. Request for Write-up | Contract | Subscribe | Publisher | Contact Us |
