February 5, 2002, AFP, Philippine president to tap ex-New York mayor Giuliani as consultant,

February 5, 2002, AFP, Philippine president to tap ex-New York mayor Giuliani as consultant,
Tuesday 12:26 PM

MANILA, Feb 5 (AFP) -

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo said Tuesday she hoped to tap former New York city mayor Rudolph Giuliani as a consultant to repair the country's image battered by lawlessness.

Arroyo, who returned from a three-nation tour that included a visit to New York city, told reporters that since Giuliani had retired, "We could recruit him as a consultant on peace and order."

The Philippines suffers from an image of lawlessness and disorder with communist insurgents and Muslim armed groups active in the countryside and criminal gangs engaged in kidnapping for ransom in Manila.

Arroyo said hiring Giuliani was recommended to her by some international advisers during her recent trip to New York, recalling the ex-mayor had "turned New York around."

"So they suggested I get him as a consultant."

Arroyo said she did not know what it would cost to hire Giuliani, who has plans to form a management consulting firm after he stepped down as mayor on December 31.

Guiliani won worldwide acclaim for his handling of the September 11 terror attacks in New York.

Arroyo's National Security Adviser Roilo Golez cited Giuliani for fighting crime and poor sanitation in New York during his years as mayor.

Opposition legislators have criticised Arroyo's move, saying it would be an insult to Filipinos to hire a foreigner to advise her on a local matter.

However Arroyo said while Filipino consultants were effective, it was better to have different viewpoints.