Should President Aquino discuss scuttling the VFA?

ANOTHER successful joint Philippine-US military and community-service exercise ended on Friday lauded by government officials and most ordinary Filipinos but, as usual, reviled by left-of-center Filipinos.

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is arriving in Manila on November 15.

Should President Benigno Aquino 3rd use the opportunity to scuttle the Visiting Forces Agreement—and please not only the National Democratic Front and the Philippine communists but also nationalist moderates calling for the abrogation of the VFA?

It has been officially announced that Secretary Clinton will be in Manila “to discuss a wide range of bilateral and multilateral issues with President Aquino.”

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario confirmed the news that the Philippines will be one her stops after the APEC Summit in Hawaii and the ASEAN Summit in Bali, Indonesia.

She was also here for two days in November 2009. She had a meeting with then President Gloria Arroyo. Her visit gained special meaning and boosted the long-standing sense of special Philippine-US friendship because it occasioned the delivery of American aid for victims of the devastation caused by Typhoon Ondoy and the unusually destructive floods that crippled Metro Manila.

But her arrival was met by protests, especially from militants campaigning for the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement.

The anti-VFA voices became angrier after President Aquino’s trip to the US and meeting with President Barack Obama in 2010.

Before his departure, the leftwing partylist Bayan Muna filed a resolution in the House of Representatives calling on the President “to initiate the abrogation of the VFA and demand the immediate withdrawal of US troops in the Philippines” in his meeting with the US President September 20-26 2010.

In the House resolution filed by Bayan Muna Congressmen Teddy Casino and Neri Javier Colmenares, they claimed that “the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the presence of US troops in the country are significant focal points of RP-US relations after the Filipino people, through the Senate, rejected the renewal of the RP-US Military Bases Agreement on September 16, 1991. The VFA is a bilateral agreement which allows the entry of US troops, materiel and establishment of US military facilities throughout the country.”

They also claimed in the resolution that “19 years hence [after the Senate rejection of the RP-US military bases], US forces are back in the country not on a visiting status, but on a permanent basis.

The 11-year old VFA has paved the way for the permanent presence of US troops and establishment of facilities throughout the country through the agreement’s vague provisions on the number, duration and stay of troops” and that “since 2002, US troops have never left the country following the year-round joint military exercises coupled with humanitarian missions mostly in areas which are known strongholds of armed revolutionary organizations. Various reports have been documented throughout the years of US troops’ involvement in direct combat operations which are explicit violations of the VFA and the Constitution.”

Virtually the same words are used the Philippine National Democratic Front in calling for the abrogation of the VFA.

Government officials, however, especially those of the Defense Department and of Foreign Affairs have nothing against the VFA.

In last Friday’s PHILBEX closing ceremonies, Filipino and US officials — Undersecretary Edilberto Adan, director of the government’s VFA Commission, US Ambassador Harry Thomas and military officers of both countries — lauded the continuing operation of the VFA and the many exercises and activities being conducted under it.

They reiterated that this 28th RP-US Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) 2012, in which 1,000 Filipino soldiers and more than 2,000 US servicemen participated, one more affirmed the years of firm friendship and mutually beneficial bilateral relationship of the Philippines and the USA.

PHIBLEX 2012 was formally opened last October 17 at the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) Headquarters in Fort Bonifacio.

As planned and expected this PHIBLEX course fortified the tactical skills of Filipino Marines but at the same time gave their American counterparts new experiences.

“Designed to improve interope-rability, operational readiness and maintain stability throughout the region, ” PHIBLEX allowed members of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to participate in training exercises that included live-fire maneuvers and amphibious operations.

The troops also engaged in several engineering and civil action projects like building classrooms and medical and dental outreach assistance to host communities in Palawan and Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija; Basa Air Base in Clark, Pampanga; the Marine Barracks Gregorio Lim in Ternate, Cavite; Crow Valley in Tarlac; the Naval Station San Miguel in San Antonio, Zambales aside from the forests and beaches in Palawan province.

The inclusion of Palawan as a military training ground triggered rumors that this 128th PHIBLEX was deliberately organized to show US and Philippine collaboration in the disputes over some of the Spratly islands, located in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), that are parts of Palawan province.

Both US and Philippine officials and military leaders disclaimed the 128th PHIBlez connection with the Spratlys conflicts.

US Brig. General Craig Timberlake immediately declared that over the years, with the US-Philippine VFA exercises being annual, some of the PHIBLEX had already been done in Palawan just as this one.

He said these maritime exercises are for the Philippines and US to develop closer partnership and for the improvement of the skills of soldiers of both cuntries.

The closing ceremony of the 28th RP-US AMPHIBIOUS LANDING EXERCISE (PHIBLEX) that officially ended on October 28, Friday, was attended by top military officials, government representatives and exercise participants.

It benefited thousands of Filipinos through the PHIBLEX’s humanitarian projects.
Marine Commandant, Major General Rustico O Guerrero AFP was the keynote speaker. He emphasized the mutual significance of the bilateral training.

United States Ambassador Harry Thomas and the Executive Director of the Visiting Forces
Agreement Commission Undersecretary Edilberto P. Adan were among those who attended the closing Ceremony.

From day one of the PHIBLEX, Philippine Exercise Director, Brigadier General Eugenio N Clemen AFP expressed his confidence that the bilateral training would enhance the Philippine Marine Corps’ effectiveness in its operations against internal and external security missions. He also noted that the humanitarian assistance projects would help the communities where the Philippine Marines are deployed.

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Source

28th joint PH, US Marines amphibious training benefits thousands of Pinoys

Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City: The 28th RP-US AMPHIBIOUS LANDING EXERCISE (PHIBLEX) officially ended here on October 28, 2011 in a closing ceremony, attended by top military officials, government representatives and exercise participants.

It benefitted thousands of local residents from the humanitarian projects provided through the exercise.

Marine Commandant Major General Rustico O Guerrero AFP was the keynote speaker. He emphasized the mutual significance of the bilateral training.

United States Ambassador Harry Thomas and the Executive Director of the Visiting Forces Agreement Commission Undersecretary Edilberto P. Adan were among those who attended the closing ceremony.

From day one of the PHIBLEX, Philippine Exercise Director, Brigadier General Eugenio N Clemen AFP expressed his confidence that the bilateral training would enhance the Philippine Marine Corps’ effectiveness in its operations against internal and external security missions. He also noted that the humanitarian assistance projects would help the communities where the Philippine Marines are deployed.

Brigadier General Craig Timberlake, the United States Exercise Director, said he delighted with the success of this year’s bilateral exercise, and sees the continued good relations and partnership of the Philippines and the United States in maintaining peace and effecting rapid response in serving the people.

This year’s exercise displayed the robust defense partnership of the Philippines and the United States. It gave primacy to effective interoperability on disaster response preparedness, community development and humanitarian assistance projects.

Thousands of residents of local communities in Cavite, Taguig City and various municipalities of Palawan benefited from the medical and engineering civic projects. The success of the RP-US military training exercises like the PHIBLEX can also be attributed to the diligent participation of AFP reservists and the cooperation of concerned local government units.

The joint military training exercises aimed to formulate and assess concepts for the Unilateral Defense Plan (UDP). Furthermore, it also envisioned evaluating concepts for transition from UDP to Bilateral Defense Plan (BDP) to Post-Conflict response.

The different military exercises such as the mechanized amphibious landing in Zambales, small boat raid in Palawan, combined arms live firing in Tarlac, special operations and martial arts in Cavite, artillery operations in Nueva Ecija, Helo Raid in Clark and BASA Airbase, and many others, have been conducted to improve interoperability between the two countries.

The United States Marine Corps troops are scheduled to return to Okinawa, Japan as the exercise events, particularly the engineering projects, are completed. Filipino Marines participating in the exercise will also return to their respective units with renewed vigor and strengthened capabilities.

Meanwhile, the local communities will have to enjoy the projects generated from the conduct of PHIBLEX.

The holding of PHIBLEX 2012 perpetuates a long and lasting partnership founded firmly on common heritage between freedom-loving countries committed to the preservation of liberty and democracy.

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[1st Lt. Tindog is the Director of the Public Affairs Office of the Philippine Marine Corps.]

Written by : 1Lt Cherryl Pontillas-Tindog PN(M)

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/sunday-times/front-pages/10263-28th-joint-ph-us-marines-amphibious-training-benefits-thousands-of-pinoys

How a US combat logistics unit served the PH, US marines

CROW VALLEY, Philippines: The importance of logistics is well known throughout the US Marine Corps.
It was the knowledge of logistics that made the amphibious landings at Incheon, North Korea, so successful for the Marine Corps, because it effectively cut North Korean supply lines which ultimately
crippled their army.

The 130 Marines of Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, applied their logistic knowledge to keep Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st MEU operating in the field.

The 31st MEU participated in the annual, bilateral Amphibious Landing Exercise in the Republic of the Philippines.

Although this was an exercise, the work of the Marines of CLB 31 was still vital. They ensured that Marines of the BLT are properly supplied by providing them with equipment and logistic support, allowing them to remain effective.

“Our main mission is to support the BLT,” said 2nd Lt. Elizabeth Harrington, the S-4 assistant officer in charge and maintenance management officer. “Our main focus is to provide food, water fuel and ammunition, but we also get to coordinate with the Philippine Marines to do some bilateral support training.”

It was the Marines of CLB 31 that set up the entire camp in Crow Valley. Normally, the job is routine, because setting up a camp is one of the CLB’s main missions, but this time was different.

“When we got out here, the whole area was flooded,” said Harrington. “There was water flowing through the middle of the camp, so we had the engineers build a berm [a raised barrier] to redirect the water to go around the camp so we could move the supplies and equipment in.”

After establishing the camp, CLB Marines had the chance to interact with Philippine service members.
“They are all really good people,” said Cpl. Joseph D. Behler, an embark chief with CLB 31, 31st MEU.
“There is a lot we have that we can teach them, and they have a lot that they can teach us.”

CLB also conducted training sessions with the Philippine Marines. They taught a bilateral Marine Corps Martial Arts Program class and trained on the capabilities of CLB 31’s Humvees. The bulk fuel specialists of CLB instructed the combined service members how to receive fuel from a CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter.

The Marines did not just interact with the Philippine military; they also interacted with local civilians during a community relations event at nearby schools. During the events, US Marines intermingled with the children and helped with sports activities.

Harrington said gave the Marines a greater appreciation of the American lifestyle by seeing the conditions many Philippine citizens live in, which is a unique experience.

Throughout the exercise the efforts of the Marines of CLB 31 continued to ensure the BLT had the supplies and equipment needed, and the local community benefitted from the Marine’s presence.

PHIBLEX is an annual opportunity in the Philippines to conduct training which is vital to maintaining the readiness and interoperability of the U.S. and the Republic of the Philippines military forces.

The 31st MEU was operating in support of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade for the exercise and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the United States’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

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Written by : Cpl. Garry J. Welch

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/sunday-times/front-pages/10262-how-a-us-combat-logistics-unit-served-the-ph-us-marines

US spent $507M in military aid to Philippines

MANILA, Philippines—The United States provided over $507 million (about P21.7 billion) in military assistance to the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. has disclosed.

Add to that more than P200 million in “improvements at various Armed Forces of the Philippines bases” that Washington had invested in the just-concluded Philippines-US Amphibious Landing Exercise, or Phiblex.

Speaking during the Phiblex closing rites last weekend at Fort Bonifacio, Thomas said that “at Basa Air Base (in Pampanga) alone, over P42 million have been earmarked to build barracks, latrines and a dining facility for both Philippine and US troops, while at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, over P25 million is being spent on road improvements.”

The envoy noted that the US government “has worked with the Armed Forces of the Philippines for nearly a decade to blunt the ability of terrorists to spread violence and fear in the Southern Philippines.”

“We’ve provided radars as part of the Coast Watch System. And we’ve recently transferred a Hamilton-class US Coast Guard Cutter that has now become a proud flagship of the Philippine Navy,” Thomas said.

At the same time, Thomas said “just like past bilateral (military) exercises and activities (between the two countries), all those involved in this year’s Phiblex have enjoyed a sense of camaraderie, teamwork, hard work and good fun.”

“We look forward to doing it all again next year,” he said.

Thomas reported that “for the past 12 days, our two nations’ soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines worked together as a team with a single purpose. The lessons learned during the long hours of exercise are important, but so are the lessons learned during those few moments of rest, when our respective service members had the chance to share a joke, learn some new words, maybe try a little ‘halo-halo’, and make a friend for life.”

The 10-day Phiblex, he emphasized, “has a very simple purpose: helping the US and the Philippines work together to build that safe and secure environment free and democratic nations need to live, work and prosper.”

“Our commitment to this shared objective is embodied in our Mutual Defense Treaty, a pillar of our relationship. The MDT enables us to work together. It facilitates our cooperation and training, and it allows us to serve our citizens more efficiently and more professionally,” he pointed out.

Like the MDT, Phiblex “too reflects the longstanding, close relationship between the Philippines and the US. Our countries share not only a common history, but we also share a mutual commitment to global peace, security and prosperity. Phiblex is our chance to practice the skills that allow us to be better partners in disaster relief, in peace-keeping operations and in counter-terrorism efforts,” said Thomas.

Phiblex “offers the opportunity to improve military skills, an opportunity made possible through the hospitality of the AFP,” he added.

Earlier, the US embassy said the Phiblex “attests to the strength and longevity of bilateral ties between our two countries.”

The mission, however, clarified that the 2,000 American troops taking part in the war games came here “at the invitation of the Republic of the Philippines and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.”

On October 17, US Marines and sailors from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade kicked off their combined training with the AFP to “improve interoperability, increase readiness and build professional and personal relationships.”

In a statement, the embassy said the Phiblex “takes place in various locations in the Philippines and includes a range of activities – from community relations activities such as a school building project, medical and dental care missions, as well as humanitarian assistance missions, to amphibious landing and live fire exercises.”

Captain Bradley Lee, commodore of the US Amphibious Squadron 11, said their “participation in Phiblex will demonstrate our commitment to mutual security and our longtime partnership with the Philippine government.”

Lee added “the US and the Philippines have had a long-standing relationship for many years.”

Brigadier General Eugene Clemen, Philippine exercise head, some 1,000 Filipino Marines took part in the Phiblex, a part of which was held in Palawan.

Phiblex training exercises were also held simultaneously in other venues, like Marine Barracks Gregorio Lim in Cavite, Crow Valley in Tarlac, and the Naval Station San Miguel in Zambales.

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By Jerry E. Esplanada
Philippine Daily Inquirer

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/16771/us-spent-507m-in-military-aid-to-philippines