From the Daily Tribune (Jun 26): Bayan Muna calls for prohibition of US ships in Philippine ports
Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares yesterday urged the Supreme Court to order Philippine government agencies including the Navy, coast guard and port authorities to prohibit US ships from docking in Philippine ports should the US refuse to recognize the jurisdiction of the SC in the Writ of Kalikasan case filed against the USS Guardian for the destruction of the Tubbataha reef.
Colmenares is one of the petitioners in the case.
“The US government must not be allowed to use its self-serving claim to immunity. It must obey the Supreme Court order for it to answer the Writ of Kalikasan case filed against it for the destruction of the Tubbataha reef,” said Colmenares.
“If they will not comment in the case, then the Supreme Court should hear the case ex-parte and render a decision based on the evidence so far presented, even without the US participation,” the solon added.
Pending resolution, Colmenares said a temporary environmental protection order (Tepo) may be issued against US warships prohibiting them from making ports of call in the Philippines.
“If the US loses the case, then their properties in the Philippines may be levied upon for damages. The Supreme Court may cite in contempt other respondents such as Philippine government agencies like the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) if they will not follow the prohibition of port calls issued by the court,” the solon explained.
Colmenares said the United States “has long flouted the jurisdiction of our courts and even had the gall to forcibly take from the Makati city jail a US serviceman charged with rape in Subic.”
“It is about time we start asserting ourselves and our justice system over the Americans. Prohibiting US ships from docking in our ports is a strong statement that the US should learn to follow the rules in other countries by being accountable for violation of laws of other countries like the Philippines,” said Colmenares.
“This is of course without prejudice to the eventual abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement which was the reason why US warships are allowed easy access over Philippine territory,” he stressed.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/nation/item/15847-bayan-muna-calls-for-prohibition-of-us-ships-in-philippine-ports
Colmenares is long-time CPP activist who risen through the ranks over the years. In his youth he was a member of several CPP front organizations for example the College Editors Guild of the Philippines and Student Christian Movement of the Philippines to name but two. Therefore, his current affiliation with the CPP-associated Bayan Muna (People Fist) political party should come as no surprise.
ReplyDeleteNeither should is staunch anti-Americanism opposition to the US military presence in the Philippines. He just tows the CPP party line.