Reyes junks more US training sites

DAVAO CITY — Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes said yesterday the Americans cannot convert any part of the Philippines into an "alternative training site" for their troops.

"The training conducted here in the Philippines by the American forces is bound by what is provided in the existing Mutual Defense Treaty and the Visiting Forces Agreement and nothing other than that," he said.

Reyes said the training of Filipino soldiers in counter-terrorism by the Americans does not mean that the US can set up training facilities in the country as they had done in Japan, Thailand and Hawaii.

Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio, deputy chief of staff for education and training, said the other day the US has been scouting for a suitable site for military exercises after Japan, Thailand and Hawaii imposed restrictions on US training facilities in their territories.

"I understand in my talks with the Americans that their world, in a sense, is getting smaller everyday," he said.

Around 12 to 14 Filipino air force pilots will train at a military base in the central port of Cebu at the same time, he said.

Teodosio said the training "may go beyond this year." – Edith Regalado