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Amid protests, talks start on increased US military presence in PHL
(Updated 4:04 p.m.) The Philippines and the United States on Wednesday started negotiations for the proposed increase in the US forces' rotational presence in the country despite questions on its constitutionality and the possibility that it may become a magnet for anti-US sentiments.
The arrangement would allow American and Philippine forces to jointly undertake operations better through intensified joint training of their air, naval and ground troops, and pave the way for more US military assistance to the country.
The framework agreement is also expected to implement the terms and conditions of the Mutual Defense Treaty, which compels both US and Philippines to help each other in times of attacks, and the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement, which allows US troops to be stationed in the country from time to time.
In his opening speech at the start of the negotiation held in Camp Aguinaldo, Defense Undersecretary for Defense Affairs Honorio Azcueta called for openness in the talks.
"I exhort both panels to remain candid and frank so that the outcome of this undertaking will redound to the best interest of our two countries," he added.
The proposed pact comes at a time when the Philippines has been turning to the US and other allies for help to modernize its military, as it gets more involved with maritime disputes in the West Philippine Sea.
De facto US military base?
Experts, however, fear that the proposed agreement is simply a smokescreen for plans to revive the US military bases in the Philippines, which is prohibited by a constitutional provision against foreign military presence in the country.
Article XVIII, Section 25, of the Constitution states that “foreign military bases, troops, or facilities shall not be allowed in the Philippines except under a treaty duly concurred in by the Senate and, when the Congress so requires, ratified by a majority of the votes cast by the people in a national referendum held for that purpose, and recognized as a treaty by the other contracting State.”
"It's going to be a US military base, because it looks, walks, waddles, sounds, and smells like a military base," said Ateneo de Manila University political science professor Benito Lim.
The Philippines had hosted tens of thousands of US soldiers at the Subic and Clark bases north of Manila, but they were forced to leave in 1992 after the Senate voted to end their lease contracts amid strong anti-American sentiment.
Another political scientist, Rommel Banlaoi, a senior fellow of the De La Salle University's Yuchengco Center, said the framework agreement may become a magnet for anti-American elements and sentiment.
"Ang mga Amerikano ay major target ng terrorist groups like al Qaeda. Kung may American presence dito, we can also invite anti-American groups to operate in the country," he said.
Protest actions
Anti-US bases activists on Wednesday marked the start of the negotiations with protest actions in two venues in Metro Manila.
In Quezon City, members of the Kilusang Pambansa para sa Demokrasya picketed Camp Aguinaldo as participants in the negotiations arrived for the meeting.
Traffic near the Philippine military's main camp was disrupted during the rally as protesters brandished placards calling for the scrapping of the negotiations, radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen reported.
KPD members also called on government officials to uphold Philippine sovereignty, the report said.
In Manila, 20 members of the League of Filipino Students tried to picket the US Embassy along Roxas Boulevard, but were blocked by Manila policemen.
Personnel from the MPD Station 5 did not allow the militants to get past Plaza Ferguson, which is across the embassy.
Negotiating panels
Foreign Affairs assistant secretary Carlos Sorreta, who was assigned as the head of the government panel, said the talks will be "guided by the Philippine Constitution, utmost respect for sovereignty, and mutuality of benefits in any approved activity and deployment of equipment."
Last August 12, Foreign Affairs Sec. Albert del Rosario made no mention of military bases although he repeatedly spoke of modernization in a statement announcing the talks.
Rotating in PHL since 2002
The arrangement would allow American and Philippine forces to jointly undertake operations better through intensified joint training of their air, naval and ground troops, and pave the way for more US military assistance to the country.
The framework agreement is also expected to implement the terms and conditions of the Mutual Defense Treaty, which compels both US and Philippines to help each other in times of attacks, and the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement, which allows US troops to be stationed in the country from time to time.
In his opening speech at the start of the negotiation held in Camp Aguinaldo, Defense Undersecretary for Defense Affairs Honorio Azcueta called for openness in the talks.
"I exhort both panels to remain candid and frank so that the outcome of this undertaking will redound to the best interest of our two countries," he added.
The proposed pact comes at a time when the Philippines has been turning to the US and other allies for help to modernize its military, as it gets more involved with maritime disputes in the West Philippine Sea.
De facto US military base?
Experts, however, fear that the proposed agreement is simply a smokescreen for plans to revive the US military bases in the Philippines, which is prohibited by a constitutional provision against foreign military presence in the country.
Article XVIII, Section 25, of the Constitution states that “foreign military bases, troops, or facilities shall not be allowed in the Philippines except under a treaty duly concurred in by the Senate and, when the Congress so requires, ratified by a majority of the votes cast by the people in a national referendum held for that purpose, and recognized as a treaty by the other contracting State.”
"It's going to be a US military base, because it looks, walks, waddles, sounds, and smells like a military base," said Ateneo de Manila University political science professor Benito Lim.
The Philippines had hosted tens of thousands of US soldiers at the Subic and Clark bases north of Manila, but they were forced to leave in 1992 after the Senate voted to end their lease contracts amid strong anti-American sentiment.
Another political scientist, Rommel Banlaoi, a senior fellow of the De La Salle University's Yuchengco Center, said the framework agreement may become a magnet for anti-American elements and sentiment.
"Ang mga Amerikano ay major target ng terrorist groups like al Qaeda. Kung may American presence dito, we can also invite anti-American groups to operate in the country," he said.
Protest actions
Anti-US bases activists on Wednesday marked the start of the negotiations with protest actions in two venues in Metro Manila.
In Quezon City, members of the Kilusang Pambansa para sa Demokrasya picketed Camp Aguinaldo as participants in the negotiations arrived for the meeting.
Traffic near the Philippine military's main camp was disrupted during the rally as protesters brandished placards calling for the scrapping of the negotiations, radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen reported.
KPD members also called on government officials to uphold Philippine sovereignty, the report said.
In Manila, 20 members of the League of Filipino Students tried to picket the US Embassy along Roxas Boulevard, but were blocked by Manila policemen.
Personnel from the MPD Station 5 did not allow the militants to get past Plaza Ferguson, which is across the embassy.
Negotiating panels
Foreign Affairs assistant secretary Carlos Sorreta, who was assigned as the head of the government panel, said the talks will be "guided by the Philippine Constitution, utmost respect for sovereignty, and mutuality of benefits in any approved activity and deployment of equipment."
In a statement, he said: "We would like to assure the Filipino people that your government is committed to defending and protecting the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity."
Last August 12, Foreign Affairs Sec. Albert del Rosario made no mention of military bases although he repeatedly spoke of modernization in a statement announcing the talks.
“Our region needs to know that we are steadfastly for peace; but that we stand ready to tap every resource, to call on every alliance, to do what is necessary, to defend what is ours, to secure our nation and to keep our people safe,” Del Rosario said.
The other members of the Philippine negotiating panel are Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino, Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III, and Defense Assistant Secretary Raymund Quilop.
The US negotiating panel, meanwhile, is composed of Eric John, the US Department of State Ambassador and Senior Advisor for Security Negotiations and Agreements of Political-Military Affairs; Elizabeth Jones, US Department of State Attorney Advisor; Joaquin Malavet, US Department of Defense Brigadier General; and Captain Greg Bart, Deputy Legal Counsel, Office of the Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Rotating in PHL since 2002
The Philippines has been seeking greater military help from its longtime ally and former colonial ruler, amid a deepening rift with China over rival claims to parts of the South China Sea.
While the United States has insisted it does not take sides in the dispute, it has been seeking to rebuild its military footprint in the Philippines as part of President Barack Obama's strategic "pivot" to Asia.
An agreement that went into force in 1999 allowed US troops to return to the Philippines for joint military exercises, and thousands of American soldiers regularly flow through the country during war games.
US special forces have also been rotating through the southern Philipines since 2002 to help Filipino soldiers against al Qaeda-linked militants, with the maximum number there at any one time believed to hover at about 600. — With reports from Agence France-Press and Marc Jayson Cayabyab/KBK/RSJ/YA, GMA News
