Hillary Clinton

The Manila International Airport Authority has deployed 500 security personnel around the airport complex for Thursday’s visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, which US officials described as part of President Barack Obama’s efforts to reach out to one of its strongest allies.

Angel Atutubo, airport Assistant General Manager for Emergency and Security Services at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, said security personnel will be deployed in strategic locations all over the airport complex to augment both land-side and air-side security already in place.

Clinton will arrive in Manila on board a military-spec Boeing 757 jet that will land shortly after noon and will dock at the AEGES hangar in the so-called Balagbag area inside the NAIA compound.

Red carpet honors await Clinton when she disembarks, with Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, US Ambassador Kristie Kenney and airport General Manager Alfonso Cusi on hand to welcome her.

A joint security force from the US Secret Service and the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group will provide planeside security for the visiting dignitary. The Airport Police Department will augment the efforts and cover the land-side area of the airport complex.

From the airport, Clinton will proceed to an undisclosed location before proceeding to Malacanang Palace to meet President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

On Friday, Clinton will leave at noon for Singapore to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Conference. Kenney said the Clinton visit will strengthen the efforts of President Obama to reach out to the Philippines as one of its strongest allies.

Kenney spoke during the formal commemoration Wednesday of the annual Veterans Day holiday in the US. The ceremony was held at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial where former President Fidel V. Ramos was guest of honor.

“We have the US Secretary of Defense visiting this year, the US Secretary of Agriculture visiting this year, and now, Sec. [of State] Clinton. To my mind, that really speaks that President Obama wants his team reaching out to all the allies,” Kenney said in an interview with reporters.

“Her first and foremost point in coming here is the solidarity of the Filipino people in the wake of all the devastation, the typhoons and so on – the typhoon relief, how things are going, how we continue to work together to get people back on their feet,” she said.

She said human rights will also be tackled as she described Clinton as a “strong advocate of human rights.”

“I’m sure she will talk about ways where we can all work together on human rights,” Kenney said.

The ambassador described current relations between the Philippines and the US as “superb,” citing wide areas of cooperation particularly during the recent natural disasters that hit the country.

“I think if you want to look at a good example on why our relations are good and why they matter – you look on how well we worked together during the typhoon relief and not just government to government but look at all the American people, the Fil-Ams, all the groups your organizations represent. They were able to have people from the US to provide relief,” she said.

Clinton’s visit to the Philippines Thursday will be her second. The first was in 1996 during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Subic, Zambales, when she accompanied her husband, then US President Bill Clinton.

The former US President was President Arroyo’s classmate at Georgetown University in Washington DC.

Prior to Clinton’s visit, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates was also in the country in early June while Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack came for a four-day Trade and Investment Mission in late October.

For his part, Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos said the Clinton visit is intended to make sure that the country’s next president will have bias for US.

The son of former President Ferdinand Marcos, who was deposed by an American-backed “People Power Revolution” in 1986, said he does not believe Clinton’s coming is merely a goodwill or solidarity visit for typhoon victims.

“History has proven that the US continues to adopt a policy of interference with the Philippines. The US has great interest in the Philippines that’s why it wants to make sure that our next president is someone they can control and who is willing to become its lapdog,” Marcos said.

Marcos said that the Obama administration will surely support a presidential candidate who will not oppose US interests in the country.

“Just last June, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates went to the Philippines and after that another US official, Director Leon Panetta of the Central Intelligence Agency, visited the country. I wonder why they keep on coming as elections get near,” Marcos said.

While here, Clinton is also expected to visit a typhoon relief center, possibly in Marikina City.

In the aftermath of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, Philippine officials asked US troops, who were in the country for an annual military exercise, to help with relief operations. About 700 US Marines and sailors were on hand to help out.

Clinton and Arroyo are also expected to discuss US-Philippines cooperation against extremists following the recent beheading of a school principal in Mindanao.

Global issues will also be discussed, issues that affect not only America and the Philippines but other Asian neighbors as well such as counterterrorism and climate change.

On the second day of her visit, Clinton is expected to commemorate Veterans Day at the American Cemetery in Makati City, the largest such facility outside the US that stands as a memorial to the thousands (including Filipinos) who died fighting during World War II.

After the Veterans Day commemoration, Clinton will then visit the US Embassy where she will swear in new Peace Corps volunteers.

Should her schedule permit, Clinton will also attend Town Hall Meetings, possibly at the University of Santo Tomas grounds, where she will meet with the youth and members of various civil society groups.

The former US first lady will likely discuss during the town hall meetings how the US and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) can better the lives of people in this part of the world.

Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Escudero called on the United States to provide more development aid to Luzon to speed up disaster rehabilitation in areas affected by the recent calamities.

“Whatever amounts the United States can afford to give will surely be welcome to our people whose lives and properties were devastated by Ondoy, Pepeng, Ramil and Santi,” he said on the eve of Clinton’s arrival.

According to the USAID, about 60% of its economic assistance resources are targeted to Mindanao for programs that promote economic growth, mitigate conflict, and promote peace and security. The US has also deployed most of its military assistance in conflict areas in Mindanao and Sulu.

Escudero also urged the Palace to ask Clinton for a reiteration of Washington’s commitment to take steps to reduce carbon emissions during UN climate change talks from Dec. 7 to 18 in Copenhagen.

Obama has said that it was a mistake for the United States not to have signed the Kyoto Protocol because the US then was the world’s biggest carbon producer. (With reports from Gabriel Mabutas, Roy Mabasa and Rolly Carandang)