Cablegate: Philippine Government Positive On Possible

VZCZCXRO7000
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #2292 3070949
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 030949Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5623
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI IMMEDIATE 0178
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS MANILA 002292

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR L/LEI (J LANDSIDLE) AND PM/PPA (D FORAN)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KJUS SO RP
SUBJECT: PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT POSITIVE ON POSSIBLE
PROSECUTION OF PIRATES

REF: STATE 102982

1. (SBU) Summary: Post delivered Reftel demarche on possible
Philippine government prosecution of pirates and received a
very positive response from the Philippine Secretary of
Justice. End summary.

2. (SBU) On October 28, Embassy Manila Legal Attache and
Political/External Chief met with Secretary of Justice Agnes
Devanadera to deliver Reftel demarche on prosecution of
pirates. EMBOFFs noted that, were prosecutions to go
forward, the Philippines would decide which cases to accept
and that there was a reasonable likelihood that donor funds
would be available to help offset the costs of the effort.
Devanadera was fully supportive and enthusiastic about the
idea and said that she planned to create a task force to
handle the issue.

3. (U) Post will continue to liaise with L/LEI and other
offices to determine next steps.

4. (SBU) COMMENT: The fact that so many Philippine seamen
have been held hostage by pirates is the key factor
motivating the Justice Secretary's positive response. We do
caution that this was the first approach to the government,
and that the Department of Foreign Affairs and other agencies
have yet to express their views. Nevertheless, this initial
reply by Secretary Devanadera was highly positive overall.
KENNEY

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