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RP needs US troops’ help
Apostol cites American aid in Mindanao peace efforts
By GENALYN D. KABILING
The Philippine government will not revoke its defense cooperation arrangements with the United States because Filipino troops need all the help they can get to ensure peace and stability in the country, Malacañang said yesterday.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol cited the country’s benefits from the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) despite criticisms about alleged overstaying American troops in Mindanao.
Apostol said American soldiers advise and train Filipino troops to enhance their capability in fighting lawless elements under the Balikatan exercises authorized by the VFA.
He said the US troops are not engaged in combat operations but are merely in the country for advisory roles and humanitarian assistance projects.
"The Visiting Forces Agreement is part of our international commitment. The American troops are advising our troops on how to combat terrorism," he said.
Apostol said Filipino soldiers can fight terrorists on their own but having the US advisers is of tremendous help in the high-tech world of cross-border terrorism.
"The Americans are better trained than we in this matter. That’s why we need their services. Otherwise, we would be on our own" he said, adding that even terrorists seek foreign aid and link up with other groups to boost their own efforts.
Apostol disputed criticisms that the American troops have been in the country too long. He said they are changed "every three months."
He assured that the government has no plan to allow the US to establish military bases in the country.
The Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments on a petition by a group seeking to nullify the VFA, which governs the entry and exit of the US troops in the country.
Apostol said Malacañang will abide by whatever the Supreme Court decides.
Following the end of the Philippine-US bases agreement in 1991, the Constitution has banned foreign bases and troops on Philippine soil except under a treaty concurred in by the Senate.
The Philippines and the US have a Mutual Defense Treaty to provide mutual military assistance in case of an armed attack against one of the two countries. The US forces engage in military exercises with Philippine troops to ensure well-coordinated operations when the need arises.
Apostol cites American aid in Mindanao peace efforts
By GENALYN D. KABILING
The Philippine government will not revoke its defense cooperation arrangements with the United States because Filipino troops need all the help they can get to ensure peace and stability in the country, Malacañang said yesterday.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol cited the country’s benefits from the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) despite criticisms about alleged overstaying American troops in Mindanao.
Apostol said American soldiers advise and train Filipino troops to enhance their capability in fighting lawless elements under the Balikatan exercises authorized by the VFA.
He said the US troops are not engaged in combat operations but are merely in the country for advisory roles and humanitarian assistance projects.
"The Visiting Forces Agreement is part of our international commitment. The American troops are advising our troops on how to combat terrorism," he said.
Apostol said Filipino soldiers can fight terrorists on their own but having the US advisers is of tremendous help in the high-tech world of cross-border terrorism.
"The Americans are better trained than we in this matter. That’s why we need their services. Otherwise, we would be on our own" he said, adding that even terrorists seek foreign aid and link up with other groups to boost their own efforts.
Apostol disputed criticisms that the American troops have been in the country too long. He said they are changed "every three months."
He assured that the government has no plan to allow the US to establish military bases in the country.
The Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments on a petition by a group seeking to nullify the VFA, which governs the entry and exit of the US troops in the country.
Apostol said Malacañang will abide by whatever the Supreme Court decides.
Following the end of the Philippine-US bases agreement in 1991, the Constitution has banned foreign bases and troops on Philippine soil except under a treaty concurred in by the Senate.
The Philippines and the US have a Mutual Defense Treaty to provide mutual military assistance in case of an armed attack against one of the two countries. The US forces engage in military exercises with Philippine troops to ensure well-coordinated operations when the need arises.