STATEMENT ON THE PHILIPPINES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88G01116R000901180012-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 6, 2011
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: February 11, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2011/09/06: CIA-RDP88G01116R000901180012-0 4M...,
Executive Registry
11 February 1986
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Intelligence
National Intelligence Officer for East Asia
Chief, East Asia Division, DO
Director, Office of East Asian Analysis, DI
FROM: Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: Statement on Philippines
The President will put out this afternoon or this evening the attached
statement with the changes I made as marked.
William J. Casey
Attachment a/s
'~ -J vat ~~
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STATEMENT
The Philippine elections have captured the attention of the
American public. At times we need to remind ourselves that this
is a Philippine election, not an American` election. Yet our
interests are deeply affected by these elections -- by the
results, by the -~?f the process, and by what all this
means for the future.
President Marcos invited American observers to witness the
election, Senator Lugar and Representative Murtha cochaired an
observer delegation at my request. They returned this morning.
I have heard their preliminary report. Since no definitive
judgment has yet been rendered by either the official or the
unofficial Filipino electoral bodies, it is not appropriate for
the United States to make such a judgment at this time.
Nonetheless, a few points need to be made:
-- First, it is a disturbing fact that the election has
been de+jy flawed by fraud and by violence. This concerns us
because we cherish commitment to free elections, and because we
believe the Government of the Philippines needs an authentic
popular mandate in order effectively to counter a growing
communist insurgency and restore health to a troubled economy.
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-- But second, the election itself -- the obvious
enthusiasm of Filipinos for the democratic process and the
extraordinary vigor of the campaign -- also tell us something.
They tell us of the profound yearning of the Filipino people for
democracy, and indeed of the vigor of the underlying forces of
pluralism and democracy. Only the communists boycotted the
election.
This political process in the Philippines continues. It
does not end with this election. Our task for the future is to
help nurture the hopes and possibilities of democracy; to help
the people of the Philippines overcome the grave problems their
country faces, and to continue to work for essential reforms.
To help advise me on how the United States can best pursue
that task and to assess the desires and needs of the Filipino
people, I am asking Ambassador Philip Habib to travel to the
Philippines to meet with the leaders of both political parties,
with church and government officials and with representatives of
private sector groups.
Americans can never be indifferent to events in the
Philippines. We have too much at stake there. Our national
interests converge. Our peoples bear genuine affection toward
each other. Most important, our peoples share democratic
aspirations. Those ties between our peoples will endure.
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