CHEERS and jeers met the appointment of a new United States ambassador to the Philippines.

In Malacañang, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said US President Barack Obama's appointment of Harry Thomas Jr. shows the value Obama places on US relations with the Philippines.

"Considering the very warm personal accord of the two (Obama and President Arroyo), and considering the incoming ambassador is a personal choice and nominee of President Obama, that could only mean one thing: this will augur well for better (Philippine)-American relations," Remonde said.

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Obama had appointed Thomas as new ambassador to the Philippines. But no timetable has been set as to when he will assume his post.

Remonde said Obama has high regard for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. "This was shown when she (Arroyo) became the first Asian leader he (Obama) invited to the White House last July."

Arroyo also acted as spokeswoman of Asia in meeting with Obama at the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Singapore.

On the other hand, Remonde said the country is thankful to outgoing US Ambassador Kristie Kenney, who he described as "napakabait (very kind)."

"She's one of the most popular ambassadors. Mami-miss natin ang kanyang pag-alis but that is beyond us (We will miss her but that is beyond us)," he said.

For its part, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said Thomas will inherit "huge" problems hounding RP-US relations, including that of the Visiting Forces Agreement.

Bayan, in a statement, said Thomas will also have to face queries about the continued presence of US forces in Mindanao.

"It won't be smooth sailing for the new envoy. Ambassador Thomas will face the still unresolved issue of the Visiting Forces Agreement. He will face calls for the review and termination of the VFA. He will face queries on the permanent presence of US troops in Mindanao," Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said.

Reyes said while Thomas is the first African-American to ever be appointed ambassador to the Philippines, he will ultimately be judged "based on his engagement of issues."

As to outgoing US Ambassador Kenney, Reyes said she will not leave with a clean record.

He cited the US' efforts to take in Lance Corporal Daniel Smith after his conviction by a Philippine court for the rape of a woman in Subic - "in violation of Philippine laws."

"For all her efforts to give the 'war on terror' a chummy spin, controversies in the VFA, human rights violations and US basing in the South still came to the fore. She will leave behind many unresolved issues, including those that have spurred a Philippine Senate resolution calling for a review or termination of the VFA," the Bayan official stated.

Militants, he added, will not be holding their breath on whether Thomas appointment signals major changes in RP-US relations.

"We've been visited by three Washington officials the past six months, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and CIA director Leon Panetta. These visits merely affirmed existing lopsided relations, including the necessity of the VFA. Thomas appointment will not likely change any of that." (JMR/Sunnex)