Senate leaders rebuff DFA chief on 'Yolanda' response justifying increased US military presence

From InterAksyon (Nov 27): Senate leaders rebuff DFA chief on 'Yolanda' response justifying increased US military presence

Senate leaders on Tuesday rebuffed Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario for citing the swift humanitarian response to the devastation of super typhoon “Yolanda” to make a pitch for increased US military presence in the country.

Despite the brushoff, the DFA maintained its position that an increased American presence would benefit the country, with spokesman Raul Hernandez saying: "With respect to the negotiations on increased rotational presence, one of the significant benefits of having a framework agreement is in further strengthening our capabilities in humanitarian assistance and disaster response."

Currently, the Philippines and US are negotiating the terms for the “increased rotational presence” of the Americans, which critics of foreign military presence fear could be a justification for a return to permanent basing.

In the aftermath of Yolanda, the US was among the first to respond and sent a whole carrier battle group to assist with relief missions in devastated areas.

This prompted Del Rosario to tell reporters Monday: "What [we have seen] in Central Philippines as a result of this typhoon, and the assistance provided in terms of relief and rescue operation ... demonstrates the need for this framework agreement that we are working out with the United States for increased rotational presence."

"It accentuates one of the main purposes of this framework, which is to make humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and response one of the major aspects of this agreement,” he added.

But Senate President Franklin Drilon said any American military presence should be anchored on the Constitutional provision banning the permanent basing of foreign troops on Philippine soil.

“Ang importante, ang lahat ng gagawin ay sang-ayon sa Constitution at walang permanent basing dito sa ating bansa,” Drilon said.

Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile said if Del Rosario’s logic is to be followed, “we should allow the establishment of US military bases” in the country.

“Ang mga tropa ng ibang bansa, ginagamit lang natin sa security, not for relief operation … E di, kung ganoon ang theory nila, dapat eh, magkaroon ulit ng military bases ang Amerikano dito dahil every year, tinatamaan tayo ng bagyo, ‘di ba?,” Enrile said.

“I respect his (del Rosario) opinion but, I don’t think that is enough because we do not always have that kind of problem. Otherwise, the anticipation of such disaster will always be, or any contingency will be, a justification for the presence of other troops in the country,” he added. “With due respect to them, sa akin (for me), it could not be.

It’s not a justification otherwise an anticipation of a big earthquake in the Philippines would be a justification of foreign troop presence in the country. Hindi pwede ‘yun (That can’t be allowed).”

The 1987 Constitution bans permanent basing rights of foreign troops in the country.
In 1991, the Senate rejected the RP-US Military Bases Agreement, shutting down the American facilities at Clark and Subic, although US troops are allowed temporarily into the country for joint exercises and other activities under the Visiting Forces Agreement.

Enrile said any increased US presence should pass through the Senate.

“I think it will have to come to us. It will become an amendment to the Visiting Forces Agreement because there is a prohibition in the Constitution regarding the establishment of military bases in the country, foreign military bases. It depends upon the way they will craft the relationship,” he explained.

Enrile vowed to personally scrutinize any framework agreement laid down for the Senate’s approval, including any amendments to the VFA.

“There are so many questions. We will see how frequent is the rotation … And then, who will provide the logistics for the troops, the American troops and their quartering? Where will they be quartered? Are they going to be quartered in Philippine facilities or American facilities?” he said.

Hernandez, sought for comment on the senators' sentiments, said: "The United States was among the first countries to respond generously providing resources and manpower to assist in relief rescue operations."

"Such positive experiences certainly bring tremendous goodwill to any negotiation, allowing negotiating parties to look more at all opportunities obtaining instead of impediments," he added.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/75723/senate-leaders-rebuff-dfa-chief-on-yolanda-response-justifying-increased-us-military-presence