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MANILA, Philippines—Militant groups will find a way to express their dissent over the continued existence of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the military aid of the United States during the 24-hour visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Philippines this week.
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), an umbrella organization of left-wing groups, will stage protest actions in time with Clinton’s visit on Thursday.
Clinton is set to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Ministerial Meeting and will stop by the Philippines on Thursday noon until Friday.
Clinton is the third highest US official that has visited the country this year. She follows the visit of Central Intelligence Agency director Leon Panetta and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, according to the group.
“The unusual successive visits lead us to believe that the US is determined to strengthen and expand its presence here in the Philippines. Her trip is definitely not a goodwill or solidarity visit for typhoon victims. She’s here for US security interests, more than anything else,” Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes Jr. said in a statement.
The Mutual Defense Treaty and the Visiting Forces Agreement are what governs the presence and activities of US military in the country.
Bayan echoed the view of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago that Clinton “may be out to affirm the US need for the VFA amid rising opposition to it.”
“The trade-off could be additional military aid, in exchange for expanding US military presence in the country. The additional aid may come despite the gross human rights record of the Arroyo regime,” Reyes said.
Bayan said that Clinton should explain why the US unilaterally declared it was indefinitely maintaining 600 US Special Forces in Mindanao.
It also said that Clinton should clarify the real score on US military aid to the Philippines. The US government made $2 million in aid contingent on the improved human rights record of the Arroyo government.
“The Philippine government does not deserve additional military aid because there is no qualitative improvement in the human rights situation in the country,” Reyes said.
He reminded Clinton that Melissa Roxas, A Filipino-American citizen was abducted and tortured by suspected military men. Her allegation of torture was upheld by no less than the Court of Appeals which granted her petition for a writ of amparo and habeas data, according to Reyes.
