‘Phl-US military alliance unshaken by sex-for-secrets’

MANILA, Philippines -  Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana reaffirmed the Philippine government’s commitment to honor and stand behind the country’s traditional alliance with the US even as the Duterte administration has opened up to possible military arms deals with Russia and China.

Lorenzana reiterated this commitment on the sidelines of a reception hosted by US Ambassador Sung Kim for the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Joint US Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG).

Lorenzana’s reaffirmation came on the heels of the reported indictment by the US Justice Department of current and former American military officers allegedly involved in bribery and sex scandals while they were in Manila a few years ago.

“This would not happen in the Philippines, especially under the administration of President Duterte,” Lorenzana told The STAR on Thursday.

Lorenzana, however, acknowledged the need for both governments to implement measures to prevent such incidents.

The Philippines and the US are bound by the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty. Under this treaty are the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Lorenzana dismissed apprehensions of perceived redirection of Philippine military alliance with the US, given the policy pronouncements of President Duterte who has sought to pursue an “independent foreign policy” away from traditional ally the US.

Concerns were further aroused by Duterte’s announcement of another official visit to China and Russia and the possible purchase of arms and weapons from both countries.

Lorenzana would be part of the official government delegation joining Duterte in his scheduled state visit to Russia this May.

As part of the JUSMAG anniversary program, Kim and JUSMAG chief in Manila Col. Ernest Lee presented Lorenzana with the Maj. Gen. Albert Jones Memorial Award.

The award recognizes individuals in the US or Philippine government officials who have greatly supported JUSMAG’s security cooperation in the country.

The award was named after the American officer who was among thousands of US soldiers who went through the infamous Death March that marked the fall of Bataan in 1942 during World War ll.

After the war, Jones returned to the Philippines in 1946 to lead the US military advisory mission in Manila that is now called JUSMAG.

In brief remarks after being awarded the plaque, Lorenzana recalled his stint while he was still the Special Presidential Representative for Veterans Affairs at the Philippine embassy in Washington from 2004 to 2015, when he rallied the cause of Filipino war veterans for equity of benefits after having served in the US Army during WW II.

Prior to this, Lorenzana was the defense and Armed Forces attaché from 2002 to 2004 who supervised military bilateral relations that included the annual Balikatan war games between the two military allies.

While in Washington, Lorenzana said he was approached by a young man who he said looked like popular singer Tom Jones.

The man turned out to be the grandson of Gen. Jones who expressed his desire to retrace the path taken by his late grandfather in Bataan.

Lorenzana said he accepted the MG Jones Memorial Award not as an individual but in behalf of the “collective efforts of the alliance” of the two countries to face security challenges in this part of the world.

Lorenzana was joined at the reception by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año and other Philippine and US officials.

On the other hand, US embassy spokesperson Molly Koscina told The STAR “this question should be referred to the US Justice Department where the process is taking place already.”

A JUSMAG official, however, said the US Justice Department is coordinating with concerned Philippine government agencies to help bolster the case against all the American military officials implicated.

Former defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro said he was satisfied the case had been filed against Loveless. Teodoro headed the Defense department in 2008 when the scandal occurred.

Teodoro was among the former defense chiefs invited to the JUSMAG reception held at the official residence of the US ambassador in North Forbes in Makati.

“That’s pending before US authorities. We don’t have anything to do with it,” Teodoro told The STAR.

He explained the alleged offenses did not involve any transactions with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“It’s called ‘Chandlering’ as it involved US military ships that passed through Southeast Asia and this guy Chandler made these shady deals,” Teodoro said. “It’s US disciplinary matters now.”

Teodoro said the US Navy gets private contractors for port calls of their naval vessels and therefore does not go through the AFP.

The militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said there is now more reason for President Duterte to expel US troops from the country following the bribery scandal that US Navy officials engaged in while in the Philippines.

“The US Navy officials were said to have made possible participation of ‘a carousel of prostitutes’ during wild parties and orgies while making port calls in the country. US Navy Rear Admiral Bruce Loveless was said to have engaged in misbehavior at the Makati Shangri-la and Manila Hotel, throwing lavish parties all paid for by a Malaysian businessman who was bribing Loveless in exchange for service contracts and classified information,” Bayan said in a statement.

Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes said the President should now make true his promise to drive out US troops from the Philippines.

“All the more he should stop the construction of US military facilities under the EDCA. All the more he should terminate the VFA and the annual port calls and Balikatan war games,” Reyes said. –Rhodina Villanueva