U.S.-Manila Rift Over War Reopens : Policy: The ambassador denounces remarks by the Philippine foreign secretary appearing to question whether America’s role is just.

A long-simmering dispute between Washington and Manila over Gulf War policy erupted publicly for the second time Friday when U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Platt angrily denounced as “inaccurate and offensive” remarks by Philippine Foreign Secretary Raul Manglapus.

In his annual speech to the diplomatic corps, Manglapus appeared to question whether America’s role in the Persian Gulf “is necessary or even if it is just.”

Citing the tangled bilateral relations that emerged after a half century of U.S. colonial rule here, Manglapus said, “World power has now evolved into the undisputed superpower vested with the informal title of ‘constable of the world.’ ”

He then quoted President Bush’s State of the Union address Tuesday calling for Americans to “accept our responsibility to lead the world away from the dark chaos of dictatorship.”

“One may dispute whether that responsibility is necessary or even if it is just,” Manglapus continued. “But America has chosen to shoulder it, and there are those who would argue that if ‘Constable America’ did not exist, it would have to be invented.”

Sitting in the audience, Platt reacted angrily to the comments. He told reporters that the speech suggested a “different attitude” than President Corazon Aquino’s statement last week offering support “without reservation” to the U.S.-led multinational force fighting Iraq.

“I find his joking remarks about ‘Constable America’ were uncalled for and I felt that they were inaccurate and offensive,” Platt said.

The ambassador, a career diplomat who maintains an unusually high public profile here, said American actions in the Gulf are “something that the United Nations and the countries of the world who are fighting the aggression of (Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein feel is completely justified.”

Platt said he would await further instructions from Washington before commenting further. A Manglapus spokesman said the foreign secretary had no response to Platt’s criticism.

Platt has previously avoided any public criticism of the Aquino government. His four-year tour will end this summer, when he is being posted as ambassador to Pakistan.

Embassy spokesman Stanley Shrager said later that Platt was “extremely concerned” by Manglapus’ remarks. “For a foreign minister to question the justness of our cause seems inappropriate at this time,” Shrager said.

Platt’s open criticism follows a harsh rebuke to Manglapus on Jan. 9 by White House special negotiator Richard L. Armitage, who heads the American team negotiating to extend leases for two huge U.S. military bases here. Manglapus heads the Philippine panel.

Noting that the Americans were prepared to “fight and die in the Middle East,” Armitage criticized Manglapus for appearing intransigent on the bases and offering little support in the Middle East. Armitage warned that “irreparable harm” could be done to relations and cautioned that the American public could interpret the Philippine position “as an act of anti-Americanism.”

Relations between the longtime allies have soured significantly ever since Aquino refused to meet with visiting Defense Secretary Dick Cheney last February. The Bush Administration and Congress are increasingly disenchanted with Aquino, diplomats here say, and many view her as feckless, indecisive, and unable to deal with her country’s deep-rooted problems.