Reported Blackwater in Subic to be investigated

Russia Today reports:

US military firm acts “against the Constitution of the Philippines”

http://subicbaynews.blogspot.com/search?q=blackwater

“A Blackwater subsidiary operates a five-acre facility in the Philippines where they can train up to one thousand military contractors… for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan,” says investigative journalist Wayne Madsen.

http://russiatoday.com/Politics/2009-08-28/us-military-firm-philippines.html#

Investigative Journalist and RT Contributor Wayne Madsen says that the Philippines has become a major base for the operating of one of the most controversial private military companies in the US: Blackwater. Blackwater, which is now known as 'Xe' is apparently training private contractors for the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. Madsen explains why exactly these contractors are there and other US companies involved in similar matters.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPHGgOGL1Zg

Lawmakers wanted it investigated according to this inquirer report

Solons seek probe of Blackwater training

By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez - INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Party list lawmakers want an investigation into reports US military contractor Blackwater (now Xe Services LLC) is training mercenaries at the Subic Bay free port in Olongapo City.

In filing House Resolution 1380, Bayan Muna party list Representatives Satur Ocampo, Teodoro Casiño and Neri Colmenares asked the committee on national defense and security to lead the inquiry.

“The alleged existence of the notorious Xe (formerly Blackwater) in Subic or any part of the country and its alleged recruitment and training of foreigners and Filipinos could violate our national sovereignty and our Constitution,” the lawmakers said in the resolution.

A video story posted August 28 on the Russia Today website, American investigative journalist Wayne Madsen claimed Satelles Solutions, had a “major operating base” for the Blackwater subsidiary in the alleged Subic facility that could train up to 1,000 operatives.

Blackwater, founded by a former US Navy Seal in North Carolina, has been denounced in some US media as being America’s “private army.” It does jobs for the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Interviewed on Russia Today, Madsen asked: “Who gave them permission? Apparently it’s against the Philippine Constitution to station foreign troops in the country ... someone is running around the Constitution of the Philippines. Obviously this is done with the permission of the president of the Philippines,” Madsen said.

He claimed the country was now a “major operating base” for the Blackwater subsidiary.

Madsen had alleged the Subic facility could train up to 1,000 operatives. He also claimed that other US companies linked to former US Vice President Dick Cheney had also opened a shooting range at the former Clark Air Base.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority administrator Armand Arreza denied this.

But Arreza admitted that Blackwater had submitted a proposal to set up a training facility in Subic three years ago. It was rejected, Arreza said, adding that “we want to develop the SBMA for commercial and industrial uses. We felt that the request went against our charter.”

Mercenaries training in Subic?

Blackwater, the dreaded security contractors who have wreaked havoc in Iraq, has presence in Pakistan, Afganistan and training facilities in undisclosed locations (including Clark and Subic in the Philippines?)... an online report said

Simple news search revealed latest articles about the company such as the links below:

http://subicbaynews.blogspot.com/search?q=blackwater

Blackwater's 'Merchants of Death'

The Nation: Blackwater Armed And Dangerous In Iraq

Blackwater Used by the CIA in Assassination Program

CIA hired Blackwater for killings, claims report

After Iraq, Blackwater Haunts Afghans

Congresswoman: US ties with Xe, formerly Blackwater, must end

CIA discloses program to train Blackwater agents, assassins

Blackwater should be blacklisted

Blackwater training mercenaries in Subic

By Alcuin Papa

Philippine Daily Inquirer

An investigative report circulating online said the American military contractor Blackwater was training “mercenaries” of various nationalities, including Filipinos, at the Subic free port in Olongapo City.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Armand Arreza, however, quickly denied the story.

In a video story posted August 28 on the Russia Today website, American investigative journalist Wayne Madsen claimed Satelles Solutions, a Blackwater subsidiary, was using a five-acre facility in the former United States naval base to train operatives for secret US-backed military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and other hot spots.

Blackwater, founded by a former US Navy Seal in North Carolina, has been denounced in some US media as being America’s “private army.” It does jobs for the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Interviewed on Russia Today, Madsen asked: “Who gave them permission? Apparently it’s against the Philippine Constitution to station foreign troops in the country ... someone is running around the Constitution of the Philippines. Obviously this is done with the permission of the president of the Philippines,” Madsen said.

He claimed the country was now a “major operating base” for the Blackwater subsidiary.

Madsen alleged the Subic facility could train up to 1,000 operatives. He also claimed that other US companies linked to former US Vice President Dick Cheney had also opened a shooting range at the former Clark Air Base.

In 2007, Blackwater denied it was opening a facility in the Philippines. “We are no longer pursuing a facility in the Philippines,” Anne Tyrrell, a company spokesperson, had said.

Madsen’s report indicates the company went ahead using a subsidiary company.

In a phone interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Arreza denied Blackwater was maintaining any kind of facility in the SBMA.

“There is no facility for any military training by Blackwater or any such company,” Arreza said.

The only facility for any kind of military-style training here is the Philippine National Police Leadership School, he said.

He admitted that Blackwater submitted a proposal to set up a training facility in Subic three years ago.

“But this request never materialized. We want to develop the SBMA for commercial and industrial uses. We felt that the request (of Blackwater) went against our charter.”

He also said he was willing to open the facility to inspection or investigation. “There are no restrictions here. Anyone can enter the SBMA.”

4 Comments on the issue:

i'm an active military personnel, viewing from the way we soldiers and policemen live, i don't see why most of us would opt to be a mercenary. same hardship, same risks but higher pay and better future for our families.

when lowly soldiers and policemen die in the field or streets, their families are left to starve. so with retirement, we've not enough sum of money to put up even a modest house at the age of 56, kung sabagay, kaya ako nagsundalo dahil sa hirap ng buhay, bakit kaya di ako mag-mercenary?

By Anonymous

because of competitive employment and lack of it,i chose to become a soldier, yet it seems that even with the salary the government gives, it's not enough to raise a family.what we are receiving as enlisted personnels is what we call us "bachelor's fee".

i think it better if our country will allow us to choose our means of employment, since we are fully aware of the dangers that will confront us,and it will be a much easier job because it's not our own race that we will pursue. it would be better for us to die in our line of work that provides us and our families financial securities, than here in our country that if something happened to you the families you left will be neglected by the government and just starve..

where can you see a government negotatiating with the terrorists?..and for the record you may not hear it blatantly but if there is another uprise movement a lot of us will support it..so sen. biazon stop being a hypocrite, your only saying those because your already in the middle-class living..enough of the traditions and customs,only a few benefits from it, they are also the one's who are destroying it..

By Anonymous

i'm an active military personnel, viewing from the way we soldiery live, i don't see why most of us would opt to be a mercenary. same hardship, same risks but higher pay and better future for our families. when lowly soldiers and die in the field or streets, their families are left to starve.

Bakit kasi ang mga politiko da pilipinas mas yadong matalino kaya sila hindi mag ka sundo, pati itong magandang trabaho na dumarating ayaw nilang payagan ang mga pilipino na umasinso gusto nila sila ang yayaman, takot kasi sila na maubos na ang mga pilipino sa pinas wala ng mag ttrabaho at papakain sa kanila, kala kung sinong silang matalino,, hindi naman nila kayang ayusin ang gulo sa pilipinas...kung sa bagay kahit nag gulo nila hindi nila kayang ayusin mga bobo ang politiko sa pilipinas......bopol kayo mga tarantado pa kayo..umaasa lang kayo sa taong bayan mga bweset kayo... kayo dapat ang tawaging mga patay gutom..umasa sa taong bayan.. kaya ako nagsundalo dahil sa hirap ng buhay, bakit kaya di ako mag-mercenary? takot silang maubos ang pilipino sa pinas....politiko boboooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo........... .................kayong lahat......... .......

By Rey

In a nation that has not been able to fully utilize the former U.S. Navy facility in Subic Bay in over seventeen years now; why in the hell would they turn down such an investment from a billion dollar company which could bring life to that region of Bataan again, and make it a world class training facility for S.E. Asia's Security profession.

Why do hungry people turn away opportunity that feeds their extended families ?

Pinoys free to work as security in Iraq — JPE

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile said yesterday there was no law that would prohibit Filipinos from working as security men in Iraq.

Neither can they be called "mercenaries," he added.

Enrile said Filipinos who were reportedly being recruited for security work in Iraq by a US firm cannot be called mercenaries.

Asked what he thought of the report that a firm called Blackwater USA was recruiting Filipino mercenaries for the Iraq war, Enrile answered: "Mercenaries, are these people going to war? You know when you talk of mercenaries, my understanding of mercenaries are people of another country or within the country being recruited to do a military work to fight in a war. Now if they are being recruited to perform a job like security, I don’t think they can be called mercenaries."

Blackwater, an American firm reportedly engaged in security services in Iraq, was reportedly recruiting Filipinos at the former US naval base in Subic to serve as mercenaries in Iraq. However, the report was denied by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman Feliciano Salonga.

On reporting of the matter, al-Jazeera, the Arab online news service, commented, "There are fears in the country that such an activity would prove dangerous to hundreds of thousands of Filipinos working in the Middle East. Many Filipinos apply for any type of work just to work abroad and earn money."