Nene seeks suspension of MLSA

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. filed yesterday a resolution urging the indefinite suspension in the implementation of the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) between the Philippines and the United States until the Senate has finished reviewing it.

"The important thing is for Congress, particularly the Senate, to assert its right over agreements entered into by any agency of the government," Pimentel stressed.

The review of the MLSA is being jointly conducted by the Senate committees on foreign affairs headed by Sen. Manny Villar, and on national defense headed by Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. The senators remained unconvinced after the first hearing last Wednesday that the MLSA was not a treaty as asserted by Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople and Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes.

Pimentel expressed fears that unless Congress asserts its right and power, the Department of National Defense can enter into any agreement with any military group anywhere in the world on their own.

"I think this will start a very bad precedent," Pimentel added. "It would look as if the DND can ignore the rights and powers of the Senate."

Pimentel filed Resolution 498 following the declaration of Ople that the implementation of the MLSA is not contingent on any Senate action or decision as it is a mere low-level technical agreement and not a treaty subject to Senate ratification.

A resolution is a mere expression of the sentiment of a chamber and is non-binding on other agencies.

Pimentel noted that the MLSA commits the Philippine and US military forces to exchange fuel, supplies and other military equipment, and this commitment raises the need for the Senate to fully examine the provisions of the agreement before giving it effect.

He said that the executive department must not fear submitting MLSA to the Senate for review. He stressed that he would allow the MLSA to be implemented "as long as it does not violate the Constitution and it does not call for permanent basing or opening up of base facilities here."

At Malacañang, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye maintained the position of the Palace in declaring the MLSA as merely a low level agreement which does not need ratification of the Senate.

Bunye reiterated Malacañang’s position, virtually turning down hopes by some senators that President Arroyo may agree on their suggestion to temporarily shelve the implementation of MLSA pending Senate review. –With Marichu Villanueva