WASHINGTON D.C. — The Philippines is no lapdog of the United States despite its liaison work between Washington and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Malacañang said on Saturday.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said it was actually the 10-member ASEAN that designated the Philippines as country coordinator with the United States, one of its dialogue partners, a few months ago.

Remonde explained that Obama simply “reaffirmed or ratified” the appointment of the Philippines as Washington’s point man in forging closer ties with the ASEAN during a meeting with President Arroyo at the White House the other day.

“In a relationship between two parties, there should be mutual agreement. ASEAN designated this role to us before the meeting but this was somehow reaffirmed or ratified by

Obama in this meeting,” Remonde said in a press briefing, stressing that Manila's coordinating role is not new.

Remonde said the ASEAN usually designates a member-country to coordinate the concerns and proposals of the regional group with its dialogue partners such as Japan, China, and South Korea.

“The US is one of our dialogue partners and we are assigned as coordinator maybe because of our historically strong relations with the US,” he said.

As country coordinator in US-ASEAN relations, the Philippines will become the “bridge” between the United States and the ASEAN, Remonde said.

“The mechanism is already in place. ASEAN in its regular meetings will have resolutions and programs and it’s the duty of the Philippines to ensure the positions of the ASEAN will be conveyed and hopefully supported by the US,” he said.

Remonde noted that in the meeting at the White House, Mrs. Arroyo and Obama talked at length about the Philippines’ role to speak on behalf of the region.

He said he believes Obama was aware of the ASEAN’s appointment of the Philippines as its coordinator before he made the announcement at the Oval Office as it was a fresh development.

“The announcement was just a confirmation of a designation made by ASEAN,” he added.

During his meeting with Mrs. Aquino at the Oval Office, Obama announced that the Philippines will be the chief coordinator of the United States in reinvigorating ties with Southeast Asia. Obama is set to travel some countries in Asia but did not say if he will visit Manila.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton mourned yesterday the death of former President Corazon Aquino and praised her “extraordinary courage” in helping restore democracy in the Philippines.

Clinton offered condolences to the Aquino family, saying the former leader’s “quiet strength and her unshakeable commitment to justice and freedom” has inspired her and husband, former President Bill Clinton.

Clinton issued the statement shortly after she held an unannounced meeting with President Arroyo at the Willard Hotel here on Friday afternoon (Saturday morning in Manila). The closed-door meeting, the second between the two women leaders this year, centered on how to reinforce the campaign against terrorism and other security threats in the region.

“I extend my deepest condolences to the Aquino family and all the people of the Philippines on the death of former President Corazon Aquino. Cory Aquino was beloved by her nation and admired by the world for her extraordinary courage after the assassination of her husband, and later, during her service as president,” Clinton said.

“She helped bring democracy back to the Philippines after many years of authoritarian rule with a faith in her country and its people that never wavered. Like millions of people worldwide, Bill and I were inspired by her quiet strength and her unshakable commitment to justice and freedom. We join the American and Filipino people in honoring her life and memory,” she added.

Clinton got word of Aquino’s death when Filipino journalists sought her comment on the matter, right after her meeting with President Arroyo at the hotel at past 4 p.m. Shocked, Clinton eulogized Aquino as a brave patriot in helping bring back democracy in the Philippines after years of authoritarian rule.

It was unclear why President Arroyo did not inform Clinton about Mrs. Aquino's death during their meeting.

Presidential adviser on climate change Heherson Alvarez told reporters that the President learned about the death of the former leader prior to the meeting with Clinton.