RP to provide replenishment facilities to US ships, planes

Philippine and American officials have drawn up an agreement that would provide US military ships and aircraft certain facilities for the replenishment of their supplies while in the country.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Diomedio Villanueva told dzRH radio yesterday the draft is now on the desk of Vice President Teofisto Guingona, who is also foreign affairs secretary.

"In other words, it is a support matter that will be there to help them when they come here," he said. "For example when they dock (at a Philippine port), it contains provisions that require us to put in supplies, certain logistics installations to support them."

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez told dzRH yesterday the proposed accord would be in the form of an "executive agreement," as opposed to a treaty that would require the concurrence of the Senate.

"We have introduced certain corrections and concerns so that this agreement would conform to our laws," he said.

Villanueva said Filipino and American defense officials negotiated the draft Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) within the framework of the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.

"The MLSA will not be in effect if the (foreign affairs) secretary will not sign it," he said.

Villanueva said the draft agreement would not violate the Constitution which bans the stationing of foreign troops or supplies in the country unless under a treaty.

"(The defense and justice departments) have discussed the legality of (the document) in all aspects– constitutionality, viability, and how it relates to the laws we have here," he said.

The proposed agreement contains provisions "for the supply of planes and troops, how they are going to be supported when they come here for training exercises and the like," he added.

Villanueva did not identify the ports and air bases which have been chosen to hold logistics facilities for the visiting American troops.

In Clark Field, the media could not confirm from US military officials reports that "night-flying" US helicopters with Green Berets aboard would land at the former American air base.

US Army Maj. Kevin Colyer, a participant in the "Balance Pistol" military exercise at Clark, told The STAR yesterday they have received instructions that media queries about the military exercises be referred to the US Embassy.

"There’s really no reason for secrecy since we are not doing anything different from what we used to do before (during the VFA joint exercises) in the past," he said. "Unfortunately, the US Embassy instructed us not to give any information."

However, Karen Kelley, US Embassy press attaché, could not give any information about Balance Pistol, except that some 250 US troops would be taking part in the exercises.

Kelley denied that the US Embassy had imposed a gag order on US troops, saying that they were just told to refer all media queries to the embassy.

Philippine and US officials are still "debating" the mechanics of the military exercise, particularly those to be launched against the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan, she added.

Kelley could not also say whether "night-flying" helicopters would be arriving at Clark before flying to Mindanao for another military exercise in Basilan.

US troops have been arriving in Clark since Jan. 11.

At a news conference yesterday, House Minority Leader Carlos Padilla said he would endorse a resolution filed by Bayan Muna congressmen calling for an inquiry on the presence of US troops in Basilan and Zamboanga City.

Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo said the resolution would be taken up by the committee on justice, civil, political and human rights; national defense and foreign affairs.

"The people deserve to know the truth from top defense and national security officials," he said.

Meanwhile, the Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace (EMJP) urged President Arroyo yesterday to fire Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes and Villanueva as it condemned the alleged "secret military arrangement" between Villanueva and Admiral Dennis Blair, commander-in-chief of US forces in the Pacific.

Dani Beltran, EMJP secretary general, claimed in a statement that the "Reyes-Villanueva clique" in the Arroyo administration is trying to determine the country’s future with the "secret military arrangement" when it cannot even defeat the Abu Sayyaf and other outlaws in Mindanao.

"While their hospitality to US mercenaries exposed their incapability to solve the Mindanano crisis, these military men in the Arroyo government are brutally toying around with our civilian authorities," he said.

"The military arrangement will bring the entire nation into total disarray. For acts of treason and abuse of power, President Arroyo should fire her generals before it becomes too late. Arroyo should not allow the likes of Generals Reyes and Villanueva to be the cause of her downfall."– Ding Cervantes, Romel Bagares