We need defense deals with US – PNoy

From the Manila Bulletin (Oct 24): We need defense deals with US – PNoy

The Philippine government is determined to keep its military agreements with the United States despite public outcry over the murder of Filipino transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude allegedly by an American serviceman.

President Aquino said the Philippines needs the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) as well as the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the US to boost the country’s capability in addressing various challenges on security, territorial integrity, and disaster response. He assured that the government continues to uphold the national interest in forging these defense accords with its strategic ally.

“I firmly believe that we need this EDCA. We need the mutual defense treaty. We need this to address the challenges we are facing today, not just on political tensions, military protection, potential military conflicts, issues about territory, but even in terms of humanitarian assistance, that the ability to be able to respond to changes being brought about by global climate change,” Aquino said during a media forum in Ortigas last Wednesday.

PH LIMITATIONS CITED

“For instance, given our limitations, the ability to maintain communications, the ability to be able to transport people and goods here and in very adverse conditions, the ability to be able to know what is happening on the ground anywhere in the country: all of these will be assisted by our participation both treaties, the VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement), EDCA, etc,” he added.

Calls to review or even abrogate the VFA intensified after US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton was implicated in the death of Laude last October 11 in Olongapo City.

Groups calling for the review or abrogation of the VFA expressed concern that the agreement, which governs the conduct of visiting American troops in the country, is biased toward the interest of the US, especially in terms of custody of erring soldiers.

Pemberton failed to show up during the preliminary investigation of the Laude murder, and remains under US custody even though he has been transferred to Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

‘RESPECT FILIPINOS’ SENSITIVITIES’

In pursuing the country’s defense pacts with the US, the President explained that he pressed Washington to respect “our sensitivities” as well as “our cultural needs.”

“I did mention that to the ambassador and to the various officials who have visited us. In the Philippines, your long-standing ally expects to have that same treatment, that our sensitivities, our cultural needs and wants will have be demonstrated and respected by all of these agreements. And that is a very fundamental aspect,” Aquino said.

One of the issues raised by the President was that maintenance of the prepositioned supplies of the US troops must be “left to locals.”

Aquino also recognized that negotiations between the sides must be “give and take.”
“They cannot agree to something specific to the Philippines without it affecting all of their agreements elsewhere. I think we have to be reasonable,” he said.

“When you ask of the other party that which we cannot be given, then you’re guaranteeing that you will never come to an agreement. And is that the need?” he added.

HOW SINCERE IS US?

Despite President Aquino’s assurances, former senator Joker P. Arroyo expressed doubts on the sincerity of the US.

“How can Filipinos be expected to have faith in America’s military security arrangements with the Philippines when the United States does not have faith in the Philippine justice system?” Arroyo asked.

“What strikes me as offensive is that although he is in a so-called detention facility, which I think a van inside the military camp, he is being guarded by Americans. What for? What is he being guarded for? There are Filipino members of the Armed Forces already guarding the premises,”

NO TRUST

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, chairperson of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, noted.

“I find that offensive to use because it indicates that there is no trust on the capability of our own Armed Forces. If we did this in America, if, for example, a Filipino who was in a detention facility there by joint agreement of the two governments, and there were already American guards, can we insist that there be Filipino guards there? I find that unacceptable,” she said.

Arroyo recalled that the Philippines has had half a dozen defense and security arrangements with the US since 1951 “and the Philippines is divided as to its wisdom and necessity.”

“When problems arise from these security arrangements, the incident that causes it invariably is not security-related. In every case, it would involve US servicemen who violate Philippine criminal laws when they are off-duty. Pemberton is not an isolated case. In the past 60 years, similar cases have arisen,” Arroyo said.

“Predictably, the US immediately protects the US servicemen. If the US cannot even protect Filipino women from US servicemen, how can Filipinos rely on the US to live up to her commitments embodied in the treaties or agreements they have with us?” Arroyo asked.

“That should be food for thought for the Senate whose battle cry is to review the VFA,” he added.

GOLDBERG UPSET BY THEATRICS

As this developed, US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg lamented the forced entry of Laude’s sister Marilou and fiancé Marc Sueselback inside a restricted area of Camp Aguinaldo where Pemberton is held.

What happened at Camp Aguinaldo was “intruders were able to get into a restricted area” which was “very disappointing quite frankly,” Goldberg said.

“We should be all focused on making sure that the rule of law is followed to make sure that justice is served, justice for the family, justice for Jennifer Laude,” Goldberg said in a television interview yesterday.

He said although they recognize that the bereaved family of the victim is very upset, “we can’t see justice done through this kind of (incidents).”

“First of all our responsibility under the VFA is to make a suspect avail for trial,” Goldberg stressed. “That’s our responsibility, and that’s what we’ll follow.”

“We’ll follow the rule of law,” he added. “We’re not going to engage in theatrics.”

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has submitted a letter of protest before the German embassy for what it described as a misbehavior of Sueselback inside a military camp.

Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, chief military information officer, said the letter contains a request to ascertain the true identity of Sueselbeck and the violations he had committed inside the Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City last Wednesday.

http://www.mb.com.ph/we-need-defense-deals-with-us-pnoy/