Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr. INQUIRER file photo
MANILA, Philippines – As talks on the Enhanced Defense Cooperation between the United States and the Philippines progressed, the anger of one militant group boiled up.
Umbrella militant group Bagong Alyansa Makabayan picketed the Military’s general headquarters to protest what they believed the establishment of “de facto” US bases in the country.
“What they are secretly negotiating now is a de facto basing agreement for US troops,” Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes said in a statement. “The Philippine government will violate the Constitution and our national sovereignty if it allows the unlimited and unqualified use of Philippine bases and facilities by US forces.”
He claimed that US troops would be given access to Philippine facilities and that they could store weapons in Philippine bases.
Reyes and his group also demanded the Philippine government and President Benigno Aquino III to present to the public the drafts that the government submitted to the US regarding the access of American troops to Philippine bases.
“We are challenging the Philippine government to make public the draft it submitted to the US. We challenge Aquino to order full public disclosure of the details of the agreement,” Reyes said. “This executive agreement for de facto basing is illegal.”
As of Monday, the US and the Philippines, under the leadership of Department of National Defense Undersecretary Pio Batino, held the 7th round of negotiations for the Enhanced Defense Cooperation.
Reyes said that Bayan is also readying an internationally coordinated protest in the US and other Asian countires in time for Obama’s trip. Expected to join are Japan, South Korea and Guam.
The two-day talks started at the Department of National Defense headquarters on Monday, a few weeks before the arrival of US President Barack Obama. Speculation say that the agreement would be signed during his visit.
During the sixth round of talks in Washington, the Philippines agreed to allow the US access to its military bases. This will allow increased rotation of troops and US assets.
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