Pro-US bases senator open to review of military pact
Senator Richard Gordon, formerly a staunch advocate for the retention of the US military bases in the country, said on Thursday he was open to renegotiating the Philippine-US Visiting Forces Agreement amid the furor over the transfer of convicted rapist US Marine Lance Corporal Daniel Smith.
But pending the renegotiation, he said the government should respect the treaty.
“Let's renegotiate it. I'm in favor of that if that's what we really want. But if the Americans don't want it, what can we do? We can't force it,” the senator, a member of the bicameral Legislative Oversight Committee on the VFA (Lovfa), told reporters.
As mayor of Olongapo City, which hosted the Subic Bay Naval Base of the US for decades, Gordon staunchly pushed for the retention of the US bases during renegotiation in the early ‘90s under the Aquino administration. The Senate, under the leadership of senate President Jovito Salonga, would eventually reject the RP-US bases treaty.
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Lovfa chair, had said there was a need to renegotiate the treaty if only to clarify ambiguous terms, such as the “completion of judicial proceedings.” She disagreed with the Court of Appeals' interpretation that proceedings were limited to trial.
But pending the renegotiation, Gordon said that the government had no choice but to comply with the provisions of the treaty, which was ratified by the Senate.
“Unequal treaties are the result of unequal bargaining strength. If we signed it, we must follow it. If we didn't want it, we should not have signed it,” he said.
Gordon said the appellate court’s ruling dismissing Smith's petition to be returned to US custody as “moot” was not unexpected.
“The ruling is right that this [has to do] with diplomacy, and the courts should respect the Executive because they are the political department of our country,” he said. “Of course anybody will say that sovereignty must always be asserted, but then this is a friendly country (US).”
Besides, he added, there was no reason for the government to worry that the US government might fly Smith out of the country before the Supreme Court resolution of the case.
“He is there. He is not leaving. I have been there (US Embassy) when the four were still detained there. Let's wait for the Supreme Court. In fact, if they want to bring him to Subic [Bay Freeport], we have a good detention facility left behind by the Americans,” he said. “And I'm sure that if his conviction is upheld, he would be turned over to us. And if they don't, that's the time we get angry.”
The senator called for sobriety and said the people should not wrack their brains over the custody issue on Smith, even as he conceded that his midnight transfer from the Makati City jail to the US Embassy premises last Friday was done in “bad taste.”
“As they say in English, ‘We have bigger fish to fry.’ There are a lot to be gained in terms of investment, livelihood, provisions or aid for our troops,” he said.
But pending the renegotiation, he said the government should respect the treaty.
“Let's renegotiate it. I'm in favor of that if that's what we really want. But if the Americans don't want it, what can we do? We can't force it,” the senator, a member of the bicameral Legislative Oversight Committee on the VFA (Lovfa), told reporters.
As mayor of Olongapo City, which hosted the Subic Bay Naval Base of the US for decades, Gordon staunchly pushed for the retention of the US bases during renegotiation in the early ‘90s under the Aquino administration. The Senate, under the leadership of senate President Jovito Salonga, would eventually reject the RP-US bases treaty.
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Lovfa chair, had said there was a need to renegotiate the treaty if only to clarify ambiguous terms, such as the “completion of judicial proceedings.” She disagreed with the Court of Appeals' interpretation that proceedings were limited to trial.
But pending the renegotiation, Gordon said that the government had no choice but to comply with the provisions of the treaty, which was ratified by the Senate.
“Unequal treaties are the result of unequal bargaining strength. If we signed it, we must follow it. If we didn't want it, we should not have signed it,” he said.
Gordon said the appellate court’s ruling dismissing Smith's petition to be returned to US custody as “moot” was not unexpected.
“The ruling is right that this [has to do] with diplomacy, and the courts should respect the Executive because they are the political department of our country,” he said. “Of course anybody will say that sovereignty must always be asserted, but then this is a friendly country (US).”
Besides, he added, there was no reason for the government to worry that the US government might fly Smith out of the country before the Supreme Court resolution of the case.
“He is there. He is not leaving. I have been there (US Embassy) when the four were still detained there. Let's wait for the Supreme Court. In fact, if they want to bring him to Subic [Bay Freeport], we have a good detention facility left behind by the Americans,” he said. “And I'm sure that if his conviction is upheld, he would be turned over to us. And if they don't, that's the time we get angry.”
The senator called for sobriety and said the people should not wrack their brains over the custody issue on Smith, even as he conceded that his midnight transfer from the Makati City jail to the US Embassy premises last Friday was done in “bad taste.”
“As they say in English, ‘We have bigger fish to fry.’ There are a lot to be gained in terms of investment, livelihood, provisions or aid for our troops,” he said.
By TJ Burgonio - Inquirer
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
5:20 AM
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