‘Ban on foreign military bases not absolute’

MANILA, Philippines - The constitutional provision banning foreign military bases and troops in the country is not absolute, even as the Philippines and the US are close to forging a new security agreement to increase the presence of American forces in the country, the leader of the House committee on national defense said.

Muntinlupa City Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, former armed forces chief, reiterated the need to determine any constitutional role that may be played by Congress in implementing or sanctioning the proposal to allow American soldiers to increase their rotational presence and use military bases in the country.

Article 18 Section 25 of the 1987 Constitution states that “foreign military bases, troops or facilities shall not be allowed in the Philippines except under a treaty duly concurred in by the Senate and, when the Congress so requires, ratified by a majority of the votes cast by the people in a national referendum held for that purpose, and recognized as a treaty by the other contracting State.”

But Biazon said the constitutional prohibition on foreign troops and military bases “is not absolute because there is an addendum that states that it is allowed if it is in accordance with agreements or international treaties, which means that possibility was not ruled out.”

He pointed out that the 1999 Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) already allows the entry of US troops in the country, though on a temporary basis. There are also American military facilities inside a base in Zamboanga City built to house US troops training under the VFA on a rotational basis.

Under negotiation are an increased rotational presence of US troops in the country and their access to various air, naval and ground bases in the country.