PROPOSED US EXPANDED PRESENCE IN THE PHILIPPINES CONDEMNED Philippines could become an Iraq or Afghanistan Efforts by the Aquino administration to allow bigger presence of US Troops in the Philippines will not only violate the Constitution but will also increase tension in the region instead of ensuring peace and stability. This was the statement of Bayan Muna Rep. Neri J. Colmenares in response to the move by government to increase the number of US military in the Philippines reportedly to deter Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea. “The Philippines must assert its territorial integrity against China’s bullying but we cannot allow another bully in the United States to take its place. The US wants to increase its military presence in the Philippines to prop up its military domination of the region, not because it wants the help the Philippines. I am sure the people of Iraq and Afghanistan, who daily suffer from deadly bombings that have killed thousands, now regret allowing the US military to enter their country.” said Rep. Colmenares. “We should ask help from the international community while we pursue our case with multilateral bodies such the UNCLOS or the International Court of Justice. The VFA is already a violation of our sovereignty and increasing US presence will further our subservience to US interest. While we should actively and bravely stand up against these Chinese incursions, we should pursue the peaceful resolution of the conflict through the help of the international community instead of increasing tension by allowing more US troops in the area.” Rep. Colmenares also castigated the Philippine military posturing that it is weak against China and would therefore need more budget and US presence. “The AFP, after siphoning billions of pesos from the budget of education, health and other social services only to be spent on corrupt activities like the “pabaon”, “pasalubong” and salaries of ghost soldiers, keeps on asking for more money and more US support. The Defense regular budget has been given about of Php 735 Billion since 2002 on top of the AFP Modernization budget which has already amounted to nearly Php 40 Billion. This Php 770 Billion regular budget does not include the additional Php12.843 Billion strangely realigned to the AFP from savings of other departments since 2002, and the billions tucked in other budgetary items such as those paid to the purchase the two US ships using the Malampaya fund. They have been given more than Php 1.2 Trillion pesos in the last ten years if we include the military pension. Now they are saying they need more budget and US support if they are going to battle China. The AFP is not just a corrupt and repressive agency but is an embarrassment as well.” Rep. Colmenares concluded. Rep. Colmenares urge government to pursue cases with multilateral bodies like the International Court of Justice for its border dispute with China. “While the arbitral case filed with the UNCLOS is a dispute for the use of marine resources within the exclusive economic zone, the real issue with China is its unjustified territorial claim not just of the West Philippine Sea but Philippine territory off the coast of Palawan, which is beyond the jurisdiction of UNCLOS and within the cognizance of the ICJ. We have a strong case against China and we should challenge them in all these forums instead of resorting to the militarist solution of US warmongers” he ended. ###
Posted on: Sun, 11 Aug 2013 04:49:32 +0000
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