Philippine groups support abolition of US-RP accord

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 26, 2010) - The Justice for Gregan Cardeño Movement praised Filipino Senator Miriam Santiago for her effort in ending the continued presence of US troops in the Philippines.

This, after Santiago sponsored Joint Resolution No. 3, expressing the sense of Congress as a whole to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement and directing the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs to give the notice of termination to the United States.

She also said that the US has not recognized the VFA as a treaty because the American Congress never given its advice and consent to the accord.

JGCM, a group formed by relatives of Gregan Cardeño and human rights groups, condemned VFA and blamed it for the slow-moving trial of Cardeño’s case.

“I thought my husband’s work is interpreter but he told me before he died, he was asked to do not the work of an interpreter”, Myrna Cardeño, wife of Gregan disclosed.

Cardeño, a Filipino interpreter to US troops in the southern Philippines, was found dead February 3 inside a military base in Marawi City what security officials claimed was a suicide.

By his family said Cardeño did not commit suicide, but possibly abused by US troops in Marawi City. The victim’s relatives filed a petition for Writ of Amparo which the Court of Appeals granted, but US military commanders simply ignored the order and did not attend any court hearing since July.

“VFA hinders the investigation of Cardeño’s case, government agencies like CHR were not allowed to enter their barracks. In this case, how can justice be served to the victim and his family if the government cannot compel the US troops to explain what happened to Gregan Cardeño and his nature of work,” Bai Ali Indayla, spokesperson of the group said, in a statement.

According to Indayla, VFA clearly violates territorial integrity and breach our national sovereignty. This agreement covers-up US intervention to Philippines, it is unjust and unfair to continue this agreement.

“We are lobbying now to the Congress to favor Joint Resolution No. 3 and terminate immediately Visiting Forces Agreement. The Aquino Administration should also act on this matter to end human rights violations perpetrated by the US troops; PNoy should send home the Yankees,” Indayla said, referring to President Benigno Aquino.

RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement helps build a strong republic, says Foreign Affairs

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 25, 2009) - The Philippines' Foreign Affairs on Wednesday said the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States is indispensable to the nation’s security.

It released this Fact Sheet containing information on gains that accrue to the Philippines through the VFA.

* The RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) is crucial to building a strong Philippines and maintaining a stable Asia-Pacific.

As an integral part of the network of alliances in the Asia-Pacific, the VFA helps preserve peace and stability in an era of uncertainty brought on by the emergence of non-traditional threats to security.

The VFA implements the Philippines’ only military alliance and its most effective deterrent against any potential aggressor.

By increasing interoperability between Philippine and US forces, the VFA enhances Philippine national security and helps create a stable environment conducive to economic development.
The VFA helps ensure that the AFP is kept abreast of new military strategies and technologies, as well as best practices of the US military, increasing its capacity to respond to both traditional and non-traditional security challenges, such as terrorism, pandemics, natural disasters and transnational crime.

In 2006, Philippines was assisted in the training and equipping of one (1) engineering company, three (3) Infantry battalions, one (1) Marine battalion, and three (3) Light Reaction Companies (LRC).

Last year, through a total of 25 major exercises under the VFA, Philippine armed forces personnel obtained enhanced training, assistance and support on defense capacities including surveillance, intelligence, reconstruction, communications, and mobility.

Through the VFA, the AFP is provided with the necessary materiel to effectively carry out its mandate of ensuring the nation’s security.

* The VFA is essential to RP-US cooperation in the Philippine Defense Reform Program.
As a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA), the Philippines enjoys priority status in sourcing Excess Defense Articles.

The United States has already provided the AFP with 8 helicopters in 2000; 20 of the 30 committed UH-1H (Huey helicopters) in 2007; 1 cyclone; 6 fast anti-terrorism boats; 433 M-35 trucks; 30,000 M-16 rifles; 1 C130; 2 Point Class navy cutters; night vision goggles; navigation equipment; and protection equipment such as vests and helmets.

In addition to being the Philippines’ largest source of foreign military financing, valued at an average of $ 30 million annually in grants, the United States has also committed to share in the expenses for the implementation of the Joint Defense Assessment (JDA), costing approximately $ 400 million over a ten-year period. The US National Defense Authorization Act also allocated $ 12 million and $ 16 million to the Coast Watch South Project in 2007 and 2008, respectively, to strengthen security at our borders.

* The VFA generates income for the country

The VFA, through the 5-year RP-US Mutual Logistics Support Agreement that facilitates reciprocal provision of logistic support, supplies and services during military exercises, provided revenues for the AFP amounting to US$706,425.28 from seventy (70) recorded transactions.
United States ship visits to the Philippines have brought in $ 5 million and $ 9.5 million in 2006 and 2007, respectively, as proceeds from the replenishment of supplies and logistics.

* The VFA facilitates RP-US cooperation eliminating the scourge of terrorism and in rebuilding in times of disaster.

In 2008, the aircraft carrier USS Reagan assisted in relief activities following typhoon Frank. Its 13 cargo aircraft and helicopters have flown 316 sorties delivering 479,105 Ibs. of relief supplies.
Through logistic and intelligence assistance received from the United States, Philippine forces have captured 38 members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and killed 127 others, including Khadafy Janjalani, ASG spokesperson, Abu Solaiman, and ASG sub commander, Ismin Sahiron.

The civic-humanitarian component of VFA-related exercises also form the backbone of the soft approach to combating terrorism and fosters inter-faith cooperation between Christian and Muslim communities.

This was clearly evident when United States Senator Daniel Inouye, the incumbent chairman of the US Senate Appropriations Committee, visited the Philippines and was touched when he saw both Christian and Muslim Filipinos in Zamboanga cheering on US troops and waving the flags of both countries.

He commented that RP-US joint community cooperation “under the guidance and leadership of the Philippine armed forces, has played great dividends.”
* The VFA directly benefits the Filipino people through its civil-military and humanitarian component.

In the 2008, Balikatan, 17,209 patients were treated through the medical civic action program (MEDCAP), and 10 schools were repainted or rebuilt through the engineering civic action program (ENCAP).

In Puerto Princesa City, Balabac town Mayor Shuaib Astami expressed gratitude for the “blessings received by his town” through a five-day humanitarian and civic assistance program that formed part of Balikatan 08. About 2,500 residents were able to avail themselves of free medical and dental services, and joint RP and US forces were able to construct a two-room school building. The US forces also donated school supplies and athletic gear for elementary and high school students.

In Sulu, RP and US forces conducted a joint two-week medical mission in 19 towns in the province. Sulu Governor Sakur Tan noted that the humanitarian missions “will help a lot of people and we are supporting these efforts and we appreciate what the United States is doing in Sulu.”

The Governor praised Balikatan 08 for “paving the way for peace and a progressive Sulu” and attributed the fact that Sulu is the most peaceful of Muslim provinces in the South due to “the presence of American forces” there.

Balikatan 09’s Civil-Military Operation (CMO) activities are scheduled to be conducted in Albay, Masbate and Sorsogon and would benefit 11,000 Bicolanos through MEDCAP and 9 barangays through ENCAP.

In a press briefing for Balikatan 09, the governors of the three provinces welcomed the medical and engineering missions as an extension of the US tradition of humanitarian assistance.

Humanitarian mission ships, such as the USNS Mercy which visited Mindanao and Western Samar, helped 32,981 patients and 4,468 animals under the MEDCAP valued at $2.068 million. A total of 7 ENCAP projects, valued at $165,500, were also undertaken.

* The VFA is a concrete manifestation of the enduring alliance between the Philippines and the United States.

"The United States is perhaps the Philippines’ most important bilateral partner. It is the Philippines’ largest export market, its largest trading partner, its largest investor (cumulative basis) and the largest source of Official Development Assistance (ODA) grants. It is the only country with which the Philippines has a defense alliance, and which provides the Philippines with much-needed military equipment and training," the Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
"Clearly, the strategic defense relations, with the VFA as its anchor, have been instrumental in strengthening the country, securing its stability and in ensuring its continued prosperity," it added.

Anti-US protesters said the accord violated the sovereignty on the Philippines.

Tight Security For Zamboanga Christian Feast

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 3, 2008) – Local authorities have beefed up security to ensure the peaceful celebration of a Catholic feast in honor of the Virgin Mary.

Senior Superintendent Lurimer Detran, city police chief, said at least 2,000 policemen would be deployed to secure the feast of the Nuestra Señora Virgen del Pilar de Zaragoza on Oct.12.

The army will also deploy soldiers to help policemen in patrolling Zamboanga City, according to Colonel Edgardo Gidaya, commander of the Task Force Zamboanga.

This early, government troops have been deployed in downtown Zamboanga, many near malls and department stores, previously bombed by the militant group Abu Sayyaf.

“We have to stay alert and vigilant to thwart any plans of atrocity that these terrorists group are planning to conduct to disrupt the celebration,” Gidaya said.

US troops are also in Zamboanga City training Filipino forces since 2002. But the presence of American forces in Zamboanga and other parts of the southern Philippines have attracted protests from militant political groups and activists.

They accused the US military of putting up secret bases in Mindanao, an accusation strongly denied by both the Filipino and American authorities. Militants accused US troops of participating in combat operations which is a violation of the Philippine Constitution.

But the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on the Visiting Forces Agreement led by Filipino Senator Rodolfo Biazon said it found no evidence that could link the US forces' participation in combat operation in restive regions in Mindanao.

Biazon, the co-chairman of the committee, said there was no evidence to prove that US soldiers are involved in combat missions. The committee composed of a senator and congressmen began its inquiry last Wednesday by visiting several major camps in Zamboanga City, where the US troops are temporarily staying for the joint military training exercises in Sulu.

Among the camps they have visited were Camp Arturo Enrile of the Philippine Army in Malagutay village; Western Mindanao Command, the Edwin Andrews Air Base and the Naval Forces Western Mindanao headquarters.

The committee said that there are no permanent military bases that were reportedly established by the US force after conducting a site inspection in these major camps and further claimed that they did not saw any violations of the VFA and neither violates the law of the country.

The pronouncement drew strong criticisms from anti-US and anti-war organizations in the country who stressed concerns over the untruthful reports of the LOVFA and accusing the committee of covering the real situation.

“This is clearly a case of feigned ignorance at best or a deliberate cover-up at worst,” said Mitzi Chan, spokesperson of Stop the War Coalition-Philippines. “This is contrary to easily verifiable facts on the ground,” said lawyer Corazon Fabros, spokesperson of Citizen Peace Watch. (Erico Rosco)

Philippine Lawmakers Begin Probe Of US Military Presence In Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 26, 2008) – Filipino lawmakers are to begin an inquiry into the role of US troops deployed in the southern Philippines, where security forces are battling Abu Sayyaf terrorists and other rebel groups in the troubled region.

The inquiry was called after several political groups and lawmakers claimed US soldiers are participating in combat operations in the restive region, which is prohibited under the Filipino Constitution.

The Joint Legislative on Oversight Committee on Visiting Forces Agreement has already created a fact-finding team to investigate the allegations.

The team, headed by Rep. Antonio Cuenco and Senator Rodolfo Biazon are expected to arrive in Zamboanga City on October 1 to start the probe. US forces maintain several small bases inside the Western Mindanao Command headquarters, the Philippine Navy base and the Philippine Air Force and Philippine Army bases in Zamboanga City.

Reps. Maria Isabelle Climaco and Erico Fabian have joined the growing calls for an investigation into the continued stay of US forces in Zamboanga City since 2002, when Manila and Washington agreed to hold a series of joint military exercise there.

Among those calling for the investigation were the militant groups Bayan Muna to which Rep. Satur Ocampo, a staunch anti-US advocate, belongs; the independent Citizens Peace Watch, Bantay-Ceasefire and several Muslim human rights groups.

Former Southern Philippines military chief, Edilberto Adan, now the Executive Director of the Presidential Commission on VFA, has repeatedly denied the involvement of US troops in any combat operations in Mindanao.

Political activists have accused Adan of siding with the US military and called for his resignation. It said the VFA Commission should be headed by a civilian, who is “respectable and neutral” and not by a former military general.

“Adan should resign because he had sided so many times with the US military, instead of searching for the truth. He acts like a lawyer for the US forces, instead of being a patriotic Filipino citizen,” said Alvin San Jose, an activist.

Philippine Marines Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga, commander of the Western Mindanao Command based in Zamboanga City, said American troops are engaged in humanitarian missions and they are not allowed to participate in combat operations.

But aside from humanitarian missions, the US military said it is supporting the Philippines war on terror by providing the local military with intelligence information against the Abu Sayyaf and other rebel groups in Mindanao.

The US Embassy also said the American forces are assisting, advising and training Philippine units, and conduct series of humanitarian activities and soldiers are not supposed to engage in direct combat.

The Philippines Commission on Human Rights said it has reports of US participation in combat operations against the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces. (With reports from Erico Rosco and Juan Mantanggol)

Permanent Presence, Combat Involvement Of US Troops Undermine RP Sovereignty: Bayan

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Filipino Activists Burn U.S. Flag In Manila

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 02 Jan) Filipino protesters burned a U.S. flag Tuesday in the Philippine capital as they denounced the transfer of convicted American marine Lance Corporal Daniel Smith to U.S military custody.

Smith was sentenced to 40 years in prison for raping a 23-year old Filipino woman last year in Olongapo City. A local court ordered Smith locked up in Makati City jail Dec. 4, but Filipino government officials took him away late Friday and handed over to the U.S. Embassy.

The woman raped by Smith and militant and women’s groups supporting her were angered by the move and vowed to launch street protests and file charges in court against the Philippine officials.

Dozens of activists belonging to the group KAISA-KA burned the flag as they marched along the busy Manila road called T.M Kalaw.

The U.S. Embassy in Manila said convicted Smith has been transferred from the Makati City jail back to U.S. military custody.

It said the transfer of Smith to U.S. authority is consistent with the terms of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), an international bilateral agreement that is binding on both the United States and the Republic of the Philippines.

Judge Benjamin Pozon, of the Makati Regional Trial Court, previously denied a petition by Smith’s lawyers to transfer him to the U.S. Embassy while they are still appealing the case.

U.S. officials said Article V, Paragraph 6 of the Visiting Forces Agreement specifies: “That custody of any United States personnel over whom the Philippines is to exercise jurisdiction shall immediately reside with the United States military authorities, if they so request, from the commission of the offense until completion of all judicial proceedings.”

They said that Smith is not a private citizen, and therefore the handling of his case is subject to the terms of the VFA.

The U.S. military last week announced it was suspendending all joint military exercises scheduled for next year because of the court’s refusal to hand over Smith to the American Embassy.

Philippine Interior Secy. Ronaldo Puno on Tuesday defended Smith’s trasnfer to U.S. authorities, saying, the government was just adhering to the provisions of the VFA. “There is nothing illegal here. We are just following what is stipulated in the VFA,” he said.

Lawyers supporting the woman raped by Smith said they would file criminal charges against those responsible in the trasfer of the soldier to U.S. authorities. (Mindanao Examiner)

U.S. Military Gets Back Custody Of Convicted Marine In Philippines

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 30 Dec) – The U.S. Embassy in Manila said convicted American soldier Lance Corporal Daniel Smith has been transferred from the Makati City Jail back to U.S. military custody.

It said the transfer of Smith to U.S. authority is consistent with the terms of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), an international bilateral agreement that is binding on both the United States and the Republic of the Philippines.

A local court ordered the U.S. Marine locked up in Makati City jail after he was found guilty December 4 of raping a Filipino woman last year at the Subic. Bay Freeport in Olongapo City.

Judge Benjamin Pozon, of the Makati Regional Trial Court, previously denied a petition by Smith’s lawyers to transfer him to the U.S. Embassy while they are still appealing the case.

Smith, 21, was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

U.S. officials said Article V, Paragraph 6 of the Visiting Forces Agreement specifies: “That custody of any United States personnel over whom the Philippines is to exercise jurisdiction shall immediately reside with the United States military authorities, if they so request, from the commission of the offense until completion of all judicial proceedings.”

They said that Smith is not a private citizen, and therefore the handling of his case is subject to the terms of the VFA.

“Lance Corporal Smith will now return to U.S. military custody in the same facility at the U.S. Embassy which he was previously held for the duration of the trial,” a U.S. Embassy statement said.

“The U.S. Government has complied throughout this case with the provisions of the VFA, which provides the framework for U.S.-Philippines cooperation on legal cases involving U.S. service members. We will continue to adhere to the provisions of the VFA in coordination with the relevant Philippine authorities,” it said.

Filipino government officials took away Smith from the Makati City jail late Friday and handed over to the U.S. Embassy. The woman raped by Smith and militant and women’s groups supporting her were angered by the move and vowed to launch street protests and file charges in court against the Philippine officials.

The U.S. military earlier suspended all joint military exercises scheduled for next year because of the court’s refusal to hand over Smith to the Embassy. (Mindanao Examiner)