Speaker: US troops' 'rotational presence' constitutional

From InterAksyon (Aug 13): Speaker: US troops' 'rotational presence' constitutional

 

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. (photo by Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, InterAksyon.com)

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said Tuesday plans for the increased "rotational presence" of American troops in the country are constitutional even as he directed House leaders to coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs for a briefing on the details of the deal being negotiated with the US.

Belmonte said he talked with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario Monday after receiving the latter's letter about the negotiations.

"I think there's nothing unconstitutional about it, that's for sure, and Secretary Del Rosario said that is covered by the Mutual Defense Pact with the US as well as other agreements under international law," Belmonte said.

The House leader said the letter did not ask for any action on the part of Congress, adding that "the idea is more coordination at the level of forces and is countenances by existing treaties with the US and international laws."

"I said I will convene the chair and vice chair of the committee on national defense and foreign affairs and he (Del Rosario) or one of his associates can discuss it with us," he said.

Belmonte said the United States has maintained its traditional presence in the country, and that there was nothing wrong if the two governments forge closer coordination.
What will be unconstitutional, he said, would be the establishment of permanent American bases in the country.

"I think that a country should take maximum advantage of whatever may be afforded by its treaties with other countries. I personally believe that doing this doesn't necessarily mean that we are antagonizing anybody or provoking anybody," he said, apparently referring to China, whose increasing aggression in maritime disputes, including in the West Philippine Sea, has been used as a justification by the government to seek increased US military presence in the country.

Critics of increased American military presence said granting foreign troops increased access to Philippine military facilities would constitute a de facto basing agreement.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/68503/speaker-us-troops-rotational-presence-constitutional