The umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan called on the Philippine government to conduct an official probe of some 1,796 leaked files and transmissions from the US embassy in Manila once these files are made available. The cable transmissions are part of a cache of 251,287 leaked United States embassy cables released by Wikileaks on November 28, 2010. The files have been described as a diplomatic bombshell which could damage US relations with it allies.
According to Wikileaks’ website “The cables show the extent of US spying on its allies and the UN; turning a blind eye to corruption and human rights abuse in "client states"; backroom deals with supposedly neutral countries; lobbying for US corporations; and the measures US diplomats take to advance those who have access to them.”
The complete files will be released in stages over the next few months. As far as the Philippines is concenred, the Wikileaks website indicates that there are some 65 “secret” and “749” confidential files included in the cache. Some 982 files are unclassified. Most of the Manila files cover the period of January 2005 to February 2010, during the regime of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The files include “tags” or descriptions of topics such as foreign relations, military operations, military assistance, internal governmental affairs and external affairs.
“It is no secret that the US embassy in Manila is actually a post for US intelligence gathering and US intervention in Philippine affairs. The Wikileaks files may help us better understand how the US exerts its influcence on our country in light of several domestic controversies over the past nine years,” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.
“The Philippine government should at the very least be alarmed if it is shown that the US government is actively spying on us, undermining our sovereignty and interfering in our internal affairs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s dealings with the US government should also be looked into,” he added.
The release of the files comes at a crucial moment for PH-US relations when the Visiting Forces Agreement is being reviewed by Malacanang. The cache includes the controversial orders of US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton to gather intelligence information members of the US Security Council and on the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. Other files deal with US counter-terrorism efforts, human rights, the economy and external political affairs.
“Maybe through these files, we can better understand the US positions on the VFA and the US troops in Mindanao. We would also like to know why the US has solidly supported the Arroyo government despite massive calls for her ouster. It would also be interesting to know what really went on during the visits of US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, US CIA Director Leon Panneta and US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, all of whom visited during 2009,” Reyes said.
The Philippines may have to wait some time before the US embassy cable transmissions from Manila will be released in full. Only a fraction of the 200,00 leaked files have been uploaded on the internet.