'Goodbye Joe?’ It's not that easy - defense expert

From InterAksyon (Oct 28): 'Goodbye Joe?’ It's not that easy - defense expert



US troops in formation at the Western Mindanao Command. (image from News5 video)

Despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s repeated rhetoric about wanting to wean the Philippines from dependence to the United States and free of foreign military presence, American troops remain in the country as recent images from within the Western Mindanao Command show.

The Armed Forces said the Americans are newly arrived, part of the US’s regular rotation of troops stationed in the country.



American soldiers lay a wreath during a ceremony at the Western Mindanao Command. (image from News5 video)

Westmincom spokesman Major Felimon Tan said only around 100 American troops remain in Mindanao to provide training as well as technical and medical assistance under the Visiting Forces Agreement, and none remain in Basilan, Jolo and Lanao del Sur.

Tan stressed that a US pullout would have no effect on the Philippine military, adding that they are ready to carry out Duterte’s orders.

Defense and security expert Professor Jose Custodio, however, stressed that Duterte’s spoken wishes for the foreign troops to leave are not enough. Unless Duterte makes his wishes official through an executive order, he explained, things will stay as is.



Amercan and Filipino soldiers in friendly competition at Westmincom (image from News5 video)

But neither is the decision Duterte’s alone to make, Custodio added, as he also warned of the inevitable “repercussions” of severing military ties with the US.

For national security adviser Roilo Golez, on the other hand, cautioned against making hasty decisions as he stressed that China remains a threat to the country’s security.

Golez added that, should Duterte make good his threat to sever defense ties to the US, Russia would be a better alternative to sources military equipment from than China.

WATCH THE VIDEO REPORT BY NEWS5’S KAYE IMSON:

[Video report]

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/133758/watch--goodbye-joe-its-not-that-easy---defense-expert