Palace: No need for new agreement with US

Malacañang yesterday reiterated the decision of President Aquino to accept more American troops, increase ship visits and expand military exercises between the Philippines and the United States.

Aquino had said this was intended to strengthen the Philippines’ defense capability to protect its borders and that there was no need to enter into a new agreement with Washington.

“We have to update our military training and capability. As we have always maintained, we first acquired the Hamilton class cutter for the purpose of maritime protection and also environmental protection,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing.

Lacierda was responding to questions on whether the decision of Aquino was related to the disputed West Philippine Sea issue.

“Our military hardware is not quite up to date with our neighbors. So it’s imperative for us to update our military hardware and that’s for purposes of the protection for our country. This is primarily to improve our military training and capacity,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda stressed the decision of the President was not prompted by the external threats but was intended to ensure the Philippine military’s capability to protect the country’s borders even as it joined ASEAN member-countries in seeking a peaceful solution to the disputed West Philippine Sea.

He explained the arrangement has a legal basis and no new agreement was necessary.

“The parameters would be based on the Visiting Forces Agreement, the Mutual Defense Treaty and also the 1987 Constitution. There are mechanisms involved there. So I think that would be the basis for (the number of) troops (that) will be rotated here in the Philippines for exercises and other related matters,” Lacierda said.

In an interview with foreign media this week, Aquino said the Philippines would welcome the entry of more US troops in the country on a rotational basis but ruled out putting up permanent military bases.

The US has announced recently that it was expanding its military presence in the Asia Pacific as a counterweight to the rising presence of China in the region.

Last year, it brokered a deal with Australia to place more troops there. It is also expanding its maritime presence in Singapore and is stepping up deployments in Thailand.

The Philippines was also asking the US to build up its defense capabilities, Aquino said, as he emphasized that among the country’s requests are F-16 fighter jets, patrol vessels, transport aircraft and radar systems.

He said getting modern fighter jets from the US is a top priority, considering the Philippines is probably the most poorly-equipped in Southeast Asia.

Lacierda confirmed Aquino, representing the Philippine government, is indeed seeking the help of the US government in acquiring F- 16 fighter jets.

“We confirm that we were asking for F-16 jets,” he told Palace reporters.

Lacierda cited as an example the country’s acquisition of the Hamilton cutter, one of the two warships that the government is requesting.

“We’ve asked and it’s up to the US government whether to accede to our request for the US fighter jets. That is subject to a decision on the part of US to whether to accede to our request,” he said.