Congressional committee puts move to junk VFA on hold
But gives US 6 months to turn over rape suspects
By Veronica Uy, INQ7.net
A CONGRESSIONAL oversight committee has put on hold a move to abrogate a joint military accord with the United States after a US official indicated Washington could still agree to turn over four American Marines accused of raping a Filipina in November.
In a press conference, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, co-chairperson of the Legislative Oversight Committee on the Visiting Forces Agreement (LOVFA), said the US was open to fresh negotiations on the thorny issue of custody.
"It might be with the US embassy at the moment, but they're willing to negotiate," said Santiago Thursday.
The press conference was held shortly after committee members visited the four accused soldiers -- Daniel Smith, Keith Silkwood, Chad Carpentier, and Dominic Duplantis -- at the US embassy and met with charge d' affaires Paul Jones and deputy chief of missions Scott Bellard.
Santiago said the meeting was "amicable" and that Jones had assured her that the four would not be allowed to leave until the rape case was settled.
US Embassy spokesman Matthew Lussenhop said American officials invited the Filipino lawmakers to meet the Marines and discuss the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
The lawmakers reiterated a government request for custody and gave US authorities six months to turn over the four rape suspects to the Philippines.
"I told Paul Jones that Philippine jails are good enough for Filipinos, so why should there be better and different ones for foreigners," said Santiago.
Congressman Antonio Cuenco, LOVFA co-chairman, said the committee also decided to give Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo more time to pursue diplomatic channels on the custody issue.
“We have not withdrawn the resolution [to declare a sense to serve the notice of termination], we have only deferred it,” Cuenco said.
In January, the oversight committee approved a resolution calling on the government to abrogate the accord because US authorities refused to surrender the Marines.
Washington rejected Manila's request for their custody invoking the VFA -- an accord allowing large-scale US military exercises in the country. It also allows American authorities to detain US suspects during legal proceedings.
Cuenco said Jones also assured them that the accused would be presented at their arraignment, the date of which still has to be set by a local court.
"The Americans did understand our desire to have custody over these servicemen even before they are convicted," Cuenco said.
The lawmakers also asked US officials for a list of military assistance the Philippines has received because of the VFA, Santiago said.
LOVFA member and Congressman Ruffy Biazon said committee members were also able to see the accused in their quarters and described them as "comfortable, but not too comfortable."
Santiago said US embassy officials assured them that steps were being taken to ensure that there would be no repeat of the rape incident.
Two of the policies being enforced now among US military personnel are its no-prostitution and no-liberty rules, Santiago said.
She said these applied to US soldiers and military officers who are in the Philippines for joint military maneuvers.
A Filipina accused the four US Marines of rape at the former American naval base in Subic in Zambales province last November 1. The soldiers were on liberty after counterterrorism maneuvers with Filipino troops when the alleged rape occurred.
The soldiers are under the custody of the US embassy that cited the VFA as its basis for not turning them over to Philippine authorities.
This refusal to hand over the suspects has sparked anti-US sentiments, resulting in several protests and prompting legislators to push for the abrogation of the VFA, which gives US troops taking part in joint military exercises protection from criminal prosecution.
Cuenco said it appeared that the US diplomats were "open" to a possible amendment of the bilateral agreement. With Associated Press and Agence France-Presse
By Veronica Uy, INQ7.net
A CONGRESSIONAL oversight committee has put on hold a move to abrogate a joint military accord with the United States after a US official indicated Washington could still agree to turn over four American Marines accused of raping a Filipina in November.
In a press conference, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, co-chairperson of the Legislative Oversight Committee on the Visiting Forces Agreement (LOVFA), said the US was open to fresh negotiations on the thorny issue of custody.
"It might be with the US embassy at the moment, but they're willing to negotiate," said Santiago Thursday.
The press conference was held shortly after committee members visited the four accused soldiers -- Daniel Smith, Keith Silkwood, Chad Carpentier, and Dominic Duplantis -- at the US embassy and met with charge d' affaires Paul Jones and deputy chief of missions Scott Bellard.
Santiago said the meeting was "amicable" and that Jones had assured her that the four would not be allowed to leave until the rape case was settled.
US Embassy spokesman Matthew Lussenhop said American officials invited the Filipino lawmakers to meet the Marines and discuss the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
The lawmakers reiterated a government request for custody and gave US authorities six months to turn over the four rape suspects to the Philippines.
"I told Paul Jones that Philippine jails are good enough for Filipinos, so why should there be better and different ones for foreigners," said Santiago.
Congressman Antonio Cuenco, LOVFA co-chairman, said the committee also decided to give Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo more time to pursue diplomatic channels on the custody issue.
“We have not withdrawn the resolution [to declare a sense to serve the notice of termination], we have only deferred it,” Cuenco said.
In January, the oversight committee approved a resolution calling on the government to abrogate the accord because US authorities refused to surrender the Marines.
Washington rejected Manila's request for their custody invoking the VFA -- an accord allowing large-scale US military exercises in the country. It also allows American authorities to detain US suspects during legal proceedings.
Cuenco said Jones also assured them that the accused would be presented at their arraignment, the date of which still has to be set by a local court.
"The Americans did understand our desire to have custody over these servicemen even before they are convicted," Cuenco said.
The lawmakers also asked US officials for a list of military assistance the Philippines has received because of the VFA, Santiago said.
LOVFA member and Congressman Ruffy Biazon said committee members were also able to see the accused in their quarters and described them as "comfortable, but not too comfortable."
Santiago said US embassy officials assured them that steps were being taken to ensure that there would be no repeat of the rape incident.
Two of the policies being enforced now among US military personnel are its no-prostitution and no-liberty rules, Santiago said.
She said these applied to US soldiers and military officers who are in the Philippines for joint military maneuvers.
A Filipina accused the four US Marines of rape at the former American naval base in Subic in Zambales province last November 1. The soldiers were on liberty after counterterrorism maneuvers with Filipino troops when the alleged rape occurred.
The soldiers are under the custody of the US embassy that cited the VFA as its basis for not turning them over to Philippine authorities.
This refusal to hand over the suspects has sparked anti-US sentiments, resulting in several protests and prompting legislators to push for the abrogation of the VFA, which gives US troops taking part in joint military exercises protection from criminal prosecution.
Cuenco said it appeared that the US diplomats were "open" to a possible amendment of the bilateral agreement. With Associated Press and Agence France-Presse
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