Pimentel: Reyes wants combat role for US troops in Balikatan 03-1

Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes was accused yesterday of advocating a combat role for US soldiers who will participate in the planned joint RP-US military exercises in Mindanao.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. made the accusation in the course of an inquiry by the Senate oversight committee on the Visiting Forces Agreement on Reyes’ recent trip to Washington DC during which he discussed with US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld the planned war games.

The defense secretary immediately denied the accusation, saying he is aware that the Constitution prohibits the deployment of foreign combat troops here.

He said the Americans recognize the constitutional prohibition and are not insisting on sending combat troops.

But Pimentel said Reyes had secretly worked out a deal with US officials for the deployment of American combat troops here but that it was scuttled last month when US newspapers exposed it.

He added that Malacañang’s announcement that Mindoro Occidental, Davao del Norte and North Cotabato were being eyed as alternative sites for the exercises "implies an admission that its decision to hold the war games in Sulu was erroneous and too risky."

Pimentel also accused Reyes of hiring an American public relations firm to boost his political plans.

Reyes admitted having hired Rhodes, Webber and Chadwick last year for $15,000 a month not for political purposes but to help the government lobby for additional military assistance from the US Congress.

Malacañang however defended Reyes, saying "military operations that took place in Mindanao were under the commander-in-chief and that commander-in-chief is our President," presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said. – With Marichu Villanueva, Edith Regalado