Government to respect pullout of foreign troops bringing aid to Yolanda victims

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 1): Government to respect pullout of foreign troops bringing aid to Yolanda victims

While it would have wanted them to stay longer, the Philippine government on Sunday said it will respect the decision of some foreign governments to pull out their troops bringing relief to victims of super typhoon "Yolanda" (Haiyan).

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said the government has to understand the situation of its neighbors who sent the aid.

“Siyempre ang ating pagnanasa ay hanggang kailangan ang kanilang pagtulong at tanggap naman natin na kailangan pa, ay sana mapalawig pa nila ang kanilang pananatili rito at yung paggawad ng assistance sa atin. Pero nasa pagpapasiya na po nila yan at hindi naman po natin mapipigilan kung kinakailangan talaga nila mag-pullout sa takdang panahon na kanilang inaakala ay makabubuti sa kanilang pangangailangan (Of course if it were up to us, we would want them to stay longer because we still need much aid. But the decision to pull out foreign troops is up to their respective governments and we are in no position to prevent that),” he said over government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

The destruction brought by Yolanda on parts of the Visayas and Southern Luzon last month had triggered an outpouring of support and aid from the international community.

But some foreign governments had already indicated they are pulling out the troops that brought in relief items and services to those affected by Yolanda.

Coloma said that while the Philippine government can seek an extension of the foreign troops’ stay, it has to respect the foreign governments’ stand.

“Maari po natin silang pakiusapan pero dapat din po natin isaalang-alang ang kanilang partikular na katayuan. Yun din pong patakaran ng kanilang bansa sa pag-deploy ng pwersa o tauhan at kagamitan tulad ng ginawa nila, kailangan din naman igalang natin ang pagpapasiya ng mga pamahalaan na nagpadala ng tulong (We must also consider and respect the situation of the foreign governments and their deployment of troops to help bring relief),” the Communications Secretary noted.

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