After several months of “snubbing” President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, US President Barack Obama finally called her Saturday morning to express his personal support for the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the two countries. Obama made the phone call amid demands from militants for the scrapping of the treaty over its alleged one-sidedness in favor of the US. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Obama called Arroyo to reiterate the close ties between the Philippines and the US. Remonde said Obama also congratulated Arroyo for the Philippines' contributions in the fight against terrorism and for her policy of modernizing the Philippine military. The White House also issued a statement, saying Obama and Arroyo “reaffirmed their commitment to the long-standing US-Philippines alliance, including the Visiting Forces Agreement, which remains critical to the bilateral relationship and our strategic interests.” The White House statement also said the two leaders discussed the need to “work closely together on the global economic crisis as well as on other areas of common concern, including climate change, education, and interfaith dialogue.” Militant groups have been demanding the abrogation of the VFA following the conviction of US Lance Corporal Daniel Smith in 2006 for the rape of a Filipino woman in Subic in 2005.
