US troops can’t train without RP military

The RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement does not allow the United States to train its forces in the Philippines, according to Sen. Blas Ople.

Ople, chairman of the Senate committee on foreign relations and principal sponsor of the Senate resolution concurring with the VFA, stressed that it was not the intention of the Senate to allow the US to hold its own military training without the participation of the Philippine military.

"The intention was mainly for bilateral exercises to give the Philippine military the appropriate training and improve their capability," Ople explained.

He gave the statement following the controversy between US Ambassador Michael Malinowski and executive director Elmer Cato of the VFA Commission. Malinowski reportedly dressed down Cato after the latter had complained of US "violations" of the VFA provisions by conducting unilateral military exercises.

Cato, according to reports, specifically questioned a training mission dubbed Balance Piston 01-05 being conducted out of Clark Field. Malinowski reacted by berating Cato.

US Embassy officials, on the other hand, did not deny the unilateral exercises but claimed that they were authorized by the Philippine government.

Ople said the Senate committee on foreign relations would inquire into the controversy by inviting Vice President and concurrent Foreign Affairs Secretary Teofisto Guingona and Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes to a hearing.

He explained that while the Senate concurred in the VFA, the negotiations for the treaty were done by the executive department.

"We would appreciate hearing the opinion of the DFA and the DND if the agreement allows unilateral or even multinational exercises," Ople added.

He also said that he appreciated Guingona’s concern that the dispute between Malinowski and Cato should be contained instead of exacerbated.

"It is better for both sides to confront the legal issues before they go out of hand," Ople stressed.

He refused to say if the declaration of Malinowski as persona non grata is in order should it be proven that he had indeed berated Cato.

"The conduct of diplomacy, especially on sensitive issues, would not be served by reacting to hypothetical questions," he contended. – Efren Danao