ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A party list congressman raised Monday the need to improve and widen the monitoring on the growing numbers of US forces presence in this city and other parts of the country with fears of rising cases of human rights violations.
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate warned that the proposed framework agreement on the increase rotational presence (IRP) of American troops could lead to an increase of abuse
“Dapat pag-igtingin natin and monitoring sa presence on the US troops dahil mukhang immune na sila mga previous case of abuses. Ito’y dahil na din sa Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA),†the Mindanao representative said.
Zarate also mentioned previous cases of abuses which was untried and unheard before the courts.
“Mukhang naging immune na din sila because there was no fair resolution of the cases,†Zarate said.
Zarate earlier said the plans of the Aquino administration in treating the increased rotational presence of US troops in the country as mere “executive agreement†without subject to scrutiny by the congress and senate is unconstitutional.
According to Zarate, the increase of troops is a clear new agreement that needs the approval of the senate.
Currently, there are estimated 600 US troops on rotational tour of duty of about six months in the base inside the Camp Don Basilio Navarro.
Meanwhile, Zarate lauded Mayor Ma. Isabel Climaco-Salazar for questioning the terms of the stay of the American troops in the country.
Salazar said prospective host the local government units like Zamboanga City should be informed of the period the US forces would be staying in the city even as he also called on the US military to open communication lines to address various complaints of abuses. - Roel Pareño