RP-US war exercises to go on as scheduled
AS CONTROVERSY simmers over the coming rape trial against four American marines, US forces will hold a number of joint military exercises, officials said yesterday.
The first of these, “Balance Piston 06-02,” will open on Jan. 17 in Carmen, North Cotabato and end on Feb. 17, and involve training in small unit tactics, marksmanship and other types of field training.
The second of these exercises, involving 5,500 US personnel, will be conducted from Feb. 20 to March 5 in different locations, including the southern islands of Sulu where Muslim extremists operate.
US embassy spokesman Matt Lussenhop said the exercises had been planned for some time and “nobody from either government has proposed stopping or postponing them” despite the rape allegations.
He said the scheduled Balikatan exercises would not be affected by charges that the four US marines raped a Filipina on Nov. 1, after taking part in exercise in the former US naval base of Subic.
Citing the Visiting Forces Agreement, the US embassy in Manila took custody of the four pending trial, but public opinion supports growing demands that they be turned over to the local authorities.
Washington has not responded to a Nov. 16 request from the Philippines for custody.
The Department of Foreign Affairs, meanwhile, denied that Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo would press the country’s request when he flies to Washington this week.
“Contrary to reports, there is no meeting scheduled with (US) State Secretary (Condoleezza) Rice,” said DFA spokesman Gilbert Asuque. He said Romulo would be in Washington to participate in arbitration proceedings over the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal-3 dispute.
Earlier reports quoting unnamed department sources said Romulo would meet with Rice to follow up Manila’s bid to gain custody of the four marines. But in remarks before his departure, Romulo asked the public to give the Americans “more time” to consider the Philippine request.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee supported moves to open an inquiry into the status of the Philippine request.
“Once and for all, we should look into the status of our government’s request for custody of the suspects,” said Senator Manuel Villar. “This has dragged on for quite a while now and may unnecessarily cause delay in the judicial proceedings.”
Earlier, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago filed a resolution directing Villar’s committee to look into the issue.
Villar also pointed to the different treatment the US accorded Japan when it recently turned over an American sailor to local police after he was charged with robbing and killing a Japanese woman.
“I have always maintained my dissatisfaction with the Visiting Forces Agreement with the US,” Villar said, noting that the problems are now surfacing because of the rape case. Ferdinand Fabella, Roy Pelovello, with AFP
The first of these, “Balance Piston 06-02,” will open on Jan. 17 in Carmen, North Cotabato and end on Feb. 17, and involve training in small unit tactics, marksmanship and other types of field training.
The second of these exercises, involving 5,500 US personnel, will be conducted from Feb. 20 to March 5 in different locations, including the southern islands of Sulu where Muslim extremists operate.
US embassy spokesman Matt Lussenhop said the exercises had been planned for some time and “nobody from either government has proposed stopping or postponing them” despite the rape allegations.
He said the scheduled Balikatan exercises would not be affected by charges that the four US marines raped a Filipina on Nov. 1, after taking part in exercise in the former US naval base of Subic.
Citing the Visiting Forces Agreement, the US embassy in Manila took custody of the four pending trial, but public opinion supports growing demands that they be turned over to the local authorities.
Washington has not responded to a Nov. 16 request from the Philippines for custody.
The Department of Foreign Affairs, meanwhile, denied that Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo would press the country’s request when he flies to Washington this week.
“Contrary to reports, there is no meeting scheduled with (US) State Secretary (Condoleezza) Rice,” said DFA spokesman Gilbert Asuque. He said Romulo would be in Washington to participate in arbitration proceedings over the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal-3 dispute.
Earlier reports quoting unnamed department sources said Romulo would meet with Rice to follow up Manila’s bid to gain custody of the four marines. But in remarks before his departure, Romulo asked the public to give the Americans “more time” to consider the Philippine request.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee supported moves to open an inquiry into the status of the Philippine request.
“Once and for all, we should look into the status of our government’s request for custody of the suspects,” said Senator Manuel Villar. “This has dragged on for quite a while now and may unnecessarily cause delay in the judicial proceedings.”
Earlier, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago filed a resolution directing Villar’s committee to look into the issue.
Villar also pointed to the different treatment the US accorded Japan when it recently turned over an American sailor to local police after he was charged with robbing and killing a Japanese woman.
“I have always maintained my dissatisfaction with the Visiting Forces Agreement with the US,” Villar said, noting that the problems are now surfacing because of the rape case. Ferdinand Fabella, Roy Pelovello, with AFP
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