Palace considers senators’ concerns on planned bases agreement with US

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 29): Palace considers senators’ concerns on planned bases agreement with US

Malacanang said it is open to having discussions with lawmakers to allay fears of some senators who said the planned bases access agreement with the US may be violating the Constitution.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Aquino administration is willing to discuss the issue with the senators while the defense department irons out the possibility of allowing US forces to temporarily station their forces in their previous military base.

“Of course we are open to their concerns. We also understand their concerns and which is why we are open to having these discussions,” Valte said Saturday over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

She said the defense department has been studying different modalities on how to operationalize the increased rotational presence of the US in the country in the midst of China’s incursion on Philippine territory in West Philippine Sea.

“Kahit ano pa man ang lumabas doon sa mga mapag-aralan nilang modality na ‘yan, lahat ay sang-ayon sa ating Constitution at sang-ayon sa Visiting Forces Agreement,” she explained.

Defense secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the Philippines is ready to provide the US and other strategic allies access to its bases to counter China’s aggressive activities in the region.

Gazmin clarified there is no plan to build new bases in the country because the Philippine Constitution prohibits it, however.

The access agreement was discussed by the Philippines and the US during a ministerial consultation in Washington last year, he said.

Once the planned increased presence of US military is realized, it would give visiting US warships more security to launch operations in West Philippine Sea, added Gazmin.

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