Continuation of VFA recommended

PANAMAO, Sulu — Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement executive director Undersecretary Zosimo Jesus Paredes will recommend that President Arroyo retain the current VFA, citing the successful holding of joint military exercises between Filipino and US troops in Jolo recently.

Paredes said he would present this recommendation to the President when he next reports to her, adding he also endorses the expansion of the coverage of the Balikatan exercises.

Paredes defended the VFA amid persistent calls to scrap the agreement in protest of the presence of US forces in the country.

The agreement had sparked controversy after several US servicemen were charged with raping a 22-year-old Filipina at the Subic freeport zone in Zambales.

"The VFA continues to serve the Philippines and the Filipino people. We are benefiting so much from the exercise with our American friends," Paredes said, while inspecting the various projects implemented during Balikatan 2006 across this strife torn island-province.

"I will recommend to the President for the VFA to continue. In fact, I will include in my recommendation not only for this continuance of VFA activity but if it can be enlarged, so much the better," he said.

Paredes visited school buildings, drinking wells, health centers and road rehabilitation projects in Maimbung, Panamao, Jolo and a water system in Danag village in Patikul, among other developments.

Paredes noted it would be more beneficial to Filipinos if the extent of the exercises were larger in terms of areas covered.

Residents of certain towns and municipalities in Sulu not served during Balikatan 2006 had complained, saying they wanted to be included in the next exercise, Paredes pointed out.

During his inspection, Paredes described the projects as encouraging and beneficial to Filipinos.

Paredes said Balikatan 2006 is over officially but the "Bayanihan" (cooperation) continues with several contingents of US forces still present in Sulu to complete the other projects.

Various projects under the Bayanihan program have been suspended to give way to a shorter period after the month-long Balikatan 2006 exercise that ended early this month.

Paredes said he wanted to make sure the projects were working under the VFA agreement, contrary to allegations by a "selective" sector that US forces were actually conducting a search of mine sites.

The House committee on peace and security chaired by Sulu 1st district Rep. Hussin Amin has invited Paredes as a resource person this Wednesday at an inquiry into allegations that the US troops participated in combat operations, which they are not allowed to do under the VFA, and reportedly used the Balikatan projects as a front. — Roel Pareño