'US forward base in Phl, magnet for retaliatory terror attacks'

MANILA, Philippines - The US government’s plan to put up a forward base in the country under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) will serve as "magnet" for retaliatory attacks from sympathizers of slain terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, a party-list representative said today.

During the weekly Balitaan sa Rembrandt in Quezon City, Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colminares said that instead of worrying about the retaliatory threats and prepare for such attacks, the Aquino government should act to scrap the VFA with the US.

"This forward base will only serve as a magnet for retaliatory attacks. So we urge the President to immediately terminate the VFA. Wala namang benefits tayong nakukuha dyan," Colminares said.

He said that the more the national government pushes for these US forward basing, the more these threats will likely materialize.

Colminares said another alarming issue is that the US could invade or come into a particular country any time it wants with a forward operating base.

"It doesn’t matter kung kelan pinatay o kung saan nila pinatay si Osama bin Laden, what is alarming is that a country can go to another country and do whatever it wants... For me, that will lead to more violence and Pakistan is one example of that," the party-list congressman said.

For her part, respected political analyst, Dr. Clarita Carlos of the University of the Philippines, said the Aquino administration should "play its cards well" regarding dealing with the US, particularly the VFA.

"Don't think that we have been dealt with a bad card because we have many aces," Carlos said, noting both the US and China want a good relationship with the Philippines because of the country's vital strategic locations in the Asia Pacific region.

"We should play the game well, smart and shrewd. We cannot be the pawn of the US and the pawn of China," she added.

On the other hand, an expert on the VFA, Dean Amado Valdez of the University of the East, said what the Philippine government needs is to clearly define the nation's political and economic interests.

"We should be able to define our strategic plans for Subic and Clark," he said, noting that the two former US bases could be tapped anew by the American military as forwarding bases.

He said Pakistani government has lost any "moral argument" regarding the alleged US intervention when American troops came and killed bin Laden.

"We cannot make a general statement if a Pakistan is concerned. Pakistan is receiving billions of aid (from the US). Wala na silang moral argument regarding US intervention dyan. If we will be dealing with the US, baka it will reach a point that they will be taking the liberty in coming in anytime, we will have no moral basis to object kung papasok sila o hindi," Valdez said.