Bush still giving Arroyo the cold shoulder

Ayaw pa rin siyang pansinin ni Bush. I'm sure by now GMA is praying for a Kerry victory.

President Arroyo has been trying to move heaven and earth to get a “one-on-one” with US President George W. Bush at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Chile, scheduled for Nov. 20-21, which both she and Bush are slated to attend, a source in the Philippine Embassy in Washington disclosed to the Tribune yesterday.

“The official channels are no longer that open,” the source pointed out.

“Even Amba (Ambassador Albert del Rosario, Philippine envoy to Washington) is having an extremely difficult time just trying to get a message across to the top guys of President Bush,” the embassy source said, adding it was not anything like the treatment Del Rosario used to get before the fallout between Manila and Washington arising from Mrs. Arroyo's unilateral withdrawal of Philippine military contingent in Iraq, where she was seen by the US-led “coalition of the willing'' as having caved in to Iraqi terrorists' demands and placing the members of the alliance in more danger.

An Asian diplomat has also confirmed the runaround that Bush is giving Mrs. Arroyo.

On condition of anonymity, the diplomat also yesterday disclosed to the Tribune that Mrs. Arroyo had given US Embassy officials in Manila the message that she would like to have a “one-on-one” with the US President during the Chile meet, and if this could be arranged, as she expressed to the American diplomats here that she is willing to personally apologize to Bush for the withdrawal of the Philippine contingent in Iraq, sources said.

“President Arroyo's calls to the White House weren't being returned. That's how bad the relationship is between the two leaders. But what Mrs. Arroyo is being told by her people, in explaining her unreturned calls, is that Bush is too busy with his campaign (for reelection).”

Republican Bush squares off with Democratic Sen. John Kerry on Nov. 2 (Nov. 3, Wednesday, Philippine time) in a bid for another four years in the White House.

In Mrs. Arroyo's desperation, according to the Asian diplomat, the President has approached high-ranking US Embassy officials in Manila and privately asked them to facilitate a brief one-on-one meeting with Bush, for the sole purpose of her apologizing to him for her pulling out the country's contingent.

“The US officials didn't buy this (apology) line either,'' the diplomat said, because even during the Leyte Landing rites late last month and while Mrs. Arroyo expressed her gratitude to Bush at least twice, for the delivery of some 30 helicopters and P4-billion military aid for a span of six years, she again stressed her justification for saving the life of Angelo de la Cruz, the Filipino truck driver who was held hostage by the Iraqi rebels, reminding everyone present of her ''Filipino First policy'' even as she claimed that Filipino-American relations have reached a stage of maturity.

The source said this request of Mrs. Arroyo for a one-on-one- with Bush in Chile was “diplomatically turned down,” with officials saying most of Bush's time had already been taken up by advance agreements to sit with other country leaders.

“Knowing this was a futile effort, she (Mrs. Arroyo) instead pleaded to at least have a photo opportunity with Bush, for 'back home,' to provide the locals (Filipinos), with special emphasis on the military, that there are no ill feelings between her and the US President, and that Bush still supports her and her government,” the Asian diplomat said.

Sources in the foreign service also told the Tribune two days ago that there have been moves made by Filipino diplomats in Latin America to “work things out” to ensure that Mrs. Arroyo gets photographed with the US President during the summit.

Malacanang officials, along with the Chief Executive, are said to be hoping for a Kerry victory, for strained relations to heal at a faster clip with a Democrat President in the White House.

It was pointed out by the Philippine Embassy source in Washington that Mrs. Arroyo still wants to project that Bush continues to support her, despite the fallout, pointing out that “Bush will still be in the White House until January 2005, and a lot can still happen, even if Bush loses the race,” the source said.

The source also told the Tribune that Mrs. Arroyo feels her government is “shaky” and that she needs to convey to Filipinos the image that she still has the support of official Washington.

“She (Mrs. Arroyo) knows it is useless to get (Del Rosario) to work things out for her from here (Washington) and is instead working on (US Ambassador to the Philippines Francis) Ricciardone to have that request for a photo op in Chile at least,” the Asian diplomat said, adding “she is that desperate” especially these days when there is trouble in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.(See related story)

The source did not elaborate.

It was reported in the local media that unnamed State Department officials had disclosed that Mrs. Arroyo's calls to the White House are not being entertained, and also expressed Washington's disappointment with her as an ally.

The Philippine President has also been at pains to create that impression of the US and the Philippines continue to enjoy strong and friendly relations despite the fallout.

For more on the falling out between Bush and Gloria, read this, this and this.