By Sheila E. Covarrubias

Zamboanga City - - Members of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the US Congress yesterday pledged to recommend the expansion of assistance and support to the Philippines stressing that it is for everyone’s interest.

“We are here to look for ways to make our relationship stronger and hopefully make things more beneficial to our countries”, delegation head and Texas Congressman Silvestre Reyes, in an interaction with media during a courtesy call on Mayor Celso Lobregat at City Hall yesterday morning.

The US Congressional delegation did a day long visit to Zamboanga as a fact finding tour in a bid to strengthen partnership between the Philippines and America. The group composed of Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger of the 2nd District of Maryland, Rep. Heather Wilson of the 1st District of Mexico, Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen of the 11th district of New Jersey and Rep. Greg Meeks of the 6th District of New York.

Also with the group that called on Mayor Lobregat were Charge d’ Affaires Paul Jones, Political Counselor Tom Gibbons, Chief of Office of Regional Affairs Chris Wood, Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines Chief Col. Dave Maxwell, Public Affairs Counselor Lee McClenny and Assistant Regional Security Officer Phil Sims.

Rep. Reyes, who speaks fluent Spanish, said the relationship between Philippines and America “goes much more than a hundred years” and that, efforts to strengthen the ties should be done for the benefit of both countries.

He brushed aside reports that the American government is set to cut short its assistance to the Philippines stressing that continuous assistance is an important part of the global effort needed to make in terms of protecting American allies.

“We think it’s everyone’s best interest and we’re proud of the work that is being done here”, Reyes said.

Mayor Lobregat welcomed the American legislators to Zamboanga City and thanked the American government for all the support and assistance given to the Philippine military and police. “We welcome any and all help that can be given to our AFP and PNP”.

As far as the local government is concerned, Lobregat said Zamboanga City was the first city to come to America’s rescue when the Philippine voted to remove the US bases in Olongapo as well when the Joint US and Philippine Military exercises were launched.

The then City Council, he said, approved a resolution calling for the retention of the US bases and even offered to have the bases transferred to Zamboanga if and when Luzon is bent on ridding the bases in their area.

The city government, also, then under the late Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat, was the first local government unit to express support to the conduct of the joint military exercises, according to Lobregat.

Rep. Ruppersberger acknowledged how important RP-US relations is saying “there is not a better ally and we have good responsibility to the Philippines not only now but in our history, we’ve been together in war and in what we’re doing now”.

Rep.Frelinghuysen said he has a number of Filipino constituents in New Jersey, who he said “have a reputation for hard work, loyalty and patrioritism”.

The American congressmen also expressed admiration to Zamboanga City crediting the development and progress to Mayor Lobregat.

With Mayor Lobregat in welcoming the visitors to City Hall yesterday were Representatives Erbie Fabian and Beng Climaco, Vice Mayor Manix Dalipe and members of the City Council, City Administrator Elias Enriquez and other city officials.

From City Hall, the US congressional delegation proceeded to Western Mindanao Command for a private time with the US troops based there. (Sheila Covarrubias/ City Hall PIO)