Estrada forms body to monitor US compliance with VFA

President Estrada has formed a 13-member commission to monitor compliance by US troops with the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) which allows Washington to conduct military exercises in the country, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

The commission, which will be headed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon Jr. and Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado, was created early this week ahead of the resumption of large-scale joint RP-US military exercises later this month.

The first exercises will be held Jan. 31 to March 3 under the VFA, which was approved by the Philippine Senate last May.

The commission will ensure "respect for Philippine laws, state policies, public morals, customs and traditions and strict compliance with the provisions of the VFA and rules and regulations of various concerned agencies."

It will issue guidelines on the entry and stay of US military and civilian personnel, movement of US military vessels, aircraft and vehicles, protection of public health and the environment, and the disposition of military equipment and other provisions brought into the country by the US military.

The commission will also monitor activities of US soldiers while they are in the country, assess the environmental, social and health impact of the military exercises in areas where they are held, and assist claimants for damages, injury or death caused by US forces.

The other members of the commission are Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Justice Secretary Serafin Cuevas, Health Secretary Alberto Romualdez, Environment Secretary Antonio Cerilles, Finance Secretary Jose Pardo, Interior and Local Government Secretary Alfredo Lim, Press Secretary Rodolfo Reyes, National Security Adviser Alexander Aguirre, Presidential Legislative Liaison Office chief Secretary Jose Jaime Policarpio Jr., and one representative each from the private sector and non-government organizations.

The military exercises, to be joined by up to 2,000 troops, will include possible operations in a province near the disputed Spratly islands, the military said.

Called Balikatan, or "shoulder to shoulder," the exercises are to begin with a seminar for some participants from Jan. 31 to Feb. 6. Land, air and sea exercises are to be held from Feb. 21 to March 3, the military said.

Some 200 activists staged a lightning rally yesterday morning at Clark Field in Pampanga, and for the first time succeeded in reaching the newly upgraded gate of the former US military base.

The rallyists belonging to the Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya retreated some 10 minutes later, before Clark security men were able to regroup.

Before leaving, the rallyists spray-painted the main gate with "Scrap VFA" and "No to War Exercises" slogans. They later marched toward downtown Angeles waving red flags and banners. --