Visiting Forces Agreement

U.S. military to boost Philippines presence

December 13, 2012 | Featured, Politics & Government

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell (R) joins hands with U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs Mark Lippert (2nd R), Philippines ambassador to the U.S. Jose Cuisia and Philippines Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Erlinda Basilio (L) during a joint news conference after their meeting at a hotel in Manila December 12, 2012. REUTERS-Cheryl Ravelo

China tells army to be prepared By Manuel Mogato Reuters MANILA | Wed Dec 12, 2012 8:33am EST (Reuters) – U.S. and Philippine officials are expected to agree on an increase in the number of U.S. military ships, aircraft and troops rotating through the Philippines, Filipino officials said, as tensions simmer with China over its maritime claims. Though he made no direct reference to the Read More …

Australia, Philippines to Augment Military Drills

November 5, 2012 | Politics & Government

Australian guided missile frigate HMAS Sydney docked at Manila’s south harbor pier, Philippines on Oct. 22, 2012. (AP FILE PHOTO)

ASSOCIATED PRESS MANILA, Philippines November 4, 2012 (AP) Australia and the Philippines will discuss greater security cooperation and visits by Australian forces for exercises with Filipino troops under a newly approved pact, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Sunday. The Status of Visiting Forces Agreement, ratified by the Philippine Senate in July, allows Australian troops to hold combat exercises with Filipino forces in the Philippines. It Read More …

Barefaced lie

August 20, 2012 | Opinion

VFA

BY REY O. ARCILLA MALAYA ‘The military logistics to be moved here from Afghanistan couldn’t possibly be mainly tents, blankets and the like. The bulk must be war materiel and equipment.’ THE United States, according to news reports, plans to redeploy military logistics in Afghanistan to the Philippines ostensibly for better access during natural disasters in the Asia-Pacific region. Last I heard, the only disasters Read More …

US opposes VFA review —Wikileaks

August 30, 2011 | Politics & Government

By Michaela P. del Callar The Daily Tribune The United States had opposed the review of the controversial Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the Philippines even as the Philippine government pointed out “defects” in the defense accord, a US Embassy cable released by online whistleblower WikiLeaks said. Former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs Richard Lawless, who visited in Manila in 2007, Read More …

Asking the wrong questions about the Grand Lotto and VFA

December 2, 2010 | Opinion

AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR By William M. Esposo The Philippine Star One sure way not to know and understand anything is by asking the wrong questions. What separates the wise person from the fool is how that person asks questions. The right question will lead to the truth, to enlightenment. The wrong question will lead to more confusion. Take the case of the recent Read More …

The VFA “fixers” and RP Repeating History

November 29, 2010 | Opinion

By Erick San Juan Can we defend our nation against aggression from other countries? Can we do it alone in this chaotic world if we are going to cut off relationship with the U.S.?  Some nagging questions that hovers above the archipelago for quite some time now amidst the growing tensions in the region coupled with the tensions for the review and abrogation of the Read More …

RP : “Asia’s Lightning Rod”

October 20, 2010 | Opinion

By Erick San Juan It would be five years now since that fateful day in November, 2005 when “Nicole” accused US Marine Lance Corporal Daniel Smith of raping her as his three companions cheered inside a moving van. In April last year, the Court of Appeals reversed the decision of the Makati court and ordered Smith’s immediate release, saying “a careful and judicious perusal of Read More …