Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, chairman of a three-member Cabinet committee drafting the Mutual Logistics and Support Agreement (MLSA) between the Philippines and the United States, said he has submitted the document directly to President Arroyo for review and final approval.
But with the President acting as foreign affairs secretary in concurrent capacity, the draft did not have to go through a circuitous route. By submitting it to the President, the draft MLSA automatically reached the Palace.
Mrs. Arroyo took over the DFA following the resignation of Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. of his concurrent foreign affairs post on July 15.
Reyes said he has recommended approval of the draft as written by a technical working group between the two countries, co-chaired by Armed Forces chief Gen. Roy Cimatu and US Commander in the Pacific, Adm. Thomas Fargo.
Reyes said he turned over the document to the DFA last week for further fine-tuning prior to presentation to US Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Reyes noted that since Mrs. Arroyo is also the DFA chief, it is expected that the MLSA would be on top of her talking points with Powell who is coming to Manila within the month on the last leg of his Asian swing.
"It would be desirable if it will be signed in the presence of Secretary Powell," Reyes said.
"But we will follow our own pace because we don’t base it (signing of the MLSA) on some persons’ visit here. It can be down on appropriate time," Reyes stressed.
He admitted, however, that the MLSA is expected to be signed before the July 31 conclusion of the Balikatan 02-1, a six-month joint military training exercise on anti-terrorism being held in Mindanao.
Reyes said forging of the MLSA will allow for a smooth turnover to Philippine authorities of facilities and equipment used by the US forces for the maneuvers, including the pre-fabricated structures used by the Americans as their temporary headquarters.
"They said we can discuss it, because it is not logical for them to pull out and remove these structures — every bolt and nut. It’s more economical for them if they would just leave them behind," the secretary pointed out.
"We are not mendicants, but we need those equipment. That’s the reality. There is no quid pro quo arrangement, but we need those equipment and assistance," he added.
Reyes also said the MLSA clearly spells out the mechanism for the American structures, equipment and facilities to be donated to the Philippine government.
"The MLSA is an authorization and facilitation of mutual or reciprocal logistic support in terms of supplies and services between the two armed forces," Reyes said. "It is nothing but an accounting, logistics arrangement between the two military establishments."
Considering the nature of the agreement, Reyes said it did not need to be ratified by the Senate.
He also shrugged off allegations that the MLSA would pave the way for permanent basing here by the US forces.
"Nothing in this document goes against the Constitution and the laws of the land of the two contracting parties," Reyes noted.
He vowed full transparency on the agreement through an extensive information campaign.
"The people who are against the MLSA are the people who don’t understand it. Criticisms stem from lack of understanding it. So let us not do MLSA-bashing," Reyes said.
He added that the US has similar accords with at least 17 other countries including Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand in Asia.