VFA commission says US troops not overstaying

The Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFACOM) yesterday said US troops in the country are not overstaying since the deployment and presence of American military personnel were agreed upon by the United States and the Philippines for military exercises and activities throughout the year.

A senior military commander meanwhile welcomed an investigation into reports that US servicemen are now actively involved in combat against local and foreign terrorists in Sulu.

Edilberto Adan, a retired general and executive director of the VFACOM, said “there seems to be overstaying of US troops specially in Mindanao” but they are participants of military exercises and activities and they are rotated.

“There is the process of the annual list of military activities and exercises agreed by both governments. The list is signed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff and the commander of the Pacific Command then it is elevated to the Council of Foreign Ministers,” Adan said.

He said there are several trainings in Mindanao during different months.

“There seems to be a permanent presence but actually they are here for a series of year-round activities. That is the kind of perception seen by others but some of the activities are small. They are not overstaying,” he added.

According to Adan, structures constructed by the US forces to house their soldiers are within AFP camps with permission from the AFP.

He explained that the VFACOM submits, recommends and assesses the value of military exercises and activities mutually agreed upon by the two countries.

The VFACOM, he said, fields monitoring teams during the duration of the exercises.

“We are watchful,” he said.

Adan noted that the US military deployment in Southern Philippines for exercises and other activities would be beneficial to both countries.

“The Philippine troops gain experience from the presence of Americans because of training and intelligence support against terrorism, and at the same time the US gains from its presence in the South because they are learning from the Philippine military’s experience,” he said.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro defended on Saturday the continued stay of US military in Mindanao, saying the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) authorizes their presence and both countries have mutual obligation to provide assistance, including disaster response.

Teodoro said in the weekly radio program “Para Sa Iyo Bayan” of Vice President Noli de Castro that US facilities being used by its troops here will be turned over to the Philippines when they leave.

No combat duty

In a telephone interview, Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief also confirmed that a team from the VFA had already coordinated with him about their mission in Sulu.

“They called me and they are proceeding to Sulu, to Barangay Bon-Bon, Patikul in particular, to verify allegations that US soldiers are getting directly involved in combat,” Allaga said.

Critics are claiming that aside from overstaying, US servicemen are now reportedly engaged in actual combat against terrorist groups Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah in Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and other lawless elements in Mindanao.

But Allaga belied this, saying the US troops, who come on rotation basis, are there to provide technical support while conducting long-range humanitarian missions.

He said reports that US troops fought alongside local Marines when fighting broke out late last month in Barangay Bon-Bon were unfounded.

He said the fighting erupted when the Abu Sayyaf group ambushed a Marine logistic run, killing four Marines and wounding 10 others.

“Of the 10 who were wounded, five were critical and were flown to Zamboanga, and eventually to Manila, with the help of the Americans,” Allaga said, adding the other five personnel who sustained less serious injuries were evacuated to Zamboanga hospital by local troops.

He maintained that aside from evacuation, no American soldier got involved in last month’s fighting.

“They are there in Sulu because of still unfinished long-term humanitarian projects. I hope they get to see the brighter side of the American’s presence in the province,” Allaga said.     –Jaime Laude