Phl, US eye new pact on ‘rotational presence’ in time for Obama visit

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines and the United States aim to forge a new pact allowing the deployment of more American troops and military hardware in the country in time for the visit of US President Barack Obama, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said yesterday.

Del Rosario said negotiations between the Philippines and the US are in its final stages after three rounds of talks in Manila and Washington, and agreement could be signed before Obama’s visit on Oct. 11.

The Philippines will host the fourth round of negotiations in Manila on Oct. 1-2.

Del Rosario said Obama’s two-day visit is “quite important because it endorses the value of our relationship.”

“We’re hoping to get the framework agreement by that time, but we’ll see what happens,” Del Rosario said during a break in the plenary deliberations of the proposed 2014 budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

DFA Assistant Secretary Carlos Sorreta said both sides have made “quite a lot of progress” and the concerns of the Philippine government have been addressed.

“We have on record agreed minutes, from there you can see respect for the Philippine Constitution… we have clear language on the protection of the environment,” he said.

He stressed that both sides do not intend to have permanent US military facilities in the country, adding “there’s nothing in the agreement that will allow it.”

Sorreta said the draft of the accord clearly defines the authorization process on allowing the entry of US troops, aircraft, and warships into the country.

“If we do sign the agreement, it does not constitute blanket authority for the US to access, there is a process, each activity will have to be approved by the Philippines,” the official said.

He said the proposed agreement merely provides the parameters for possible US military activities in the country.

Sorreta noted that joint military exercises between the Philippines and the US, including the large-scale Balikatan, are mostly tactics, and designed for internal defense, counter-terrorism and transnational crimes.

He said the framework agreement would enhance these joint exercises to focus on external defense. – With Alexis Romero, Jaime Laude