VFA key to improving military – Palace

From the Manila Times (Nov 13): VFA key to improving military – Palace

SINCE the Philippines will no longer allow the United States to put up military bases in the country, the government will focus on improving the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US to enhance the capability of the military. Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda echoed the statement of US Ambassador Harry Thomas that the US has no plans of establishing military camps in the Philippines. “Definitely, there are no basing arrangements with the Americans. That has been ruled out,” Lacierda said, adding that allowing the US to revive its military bases is not consistent with the 1987 Constitution. He said that the government will instead use the VFA to improve the capability of the country’s military. Under the VFA, US and Filipino forces conduct joint military exercises to increase their combat readiness. “The Visiting Forces Agreement would allow us to do joint military exercises to improve also our capability,” he added. Lacierda said that the government will not terminate the treaty with the US amid allegations of toxic waste dumping by a contractor of the US Navy in Subic Bay. Lacierda also effectively cleared the United States of any wrongdoing when he said that it was the obligation of the third party contractor, Glenn Defense Marine Asia Philippines, to ensure that the wastes they collect are disposed in accordance with the law. “[The Philippine government’s] position is that the VFA need not be terminated. Since Glenn Defense Marine Philippines is a third-party contractor, they’re obligated to [follow the law], regardless of whether there’s VFA or not,” he said. Glenn Defense Marine Asia Philippines is the local operator of Malaysia-based Glenn Defense Marine Asia. The company has been contracted by the US Navy to siphon waste from vessels docked at Subic Bay in the northern Philippine province of Zambales. The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority had earlier accused the company of releasing waste water “beyond permissible limits” to Subic Bay.

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/top-stories/35222-vfa-key-to-improving-military-palace