AS SEEN ON TV
Digressing on Hillary and the VFA
The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) is too huge a pothole in the country which cannot be avoided by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s breezy Philippine stop. With leftists fighting it in the streets and no less than senators questioning its constitutionality, the VFA which (in leftist lingo) is synonymous to the US imperialism will always be a hot topic which made Mrs. Clinton’s short trip to the Philippines a little bumpy.
Of late, Lance Corporal Daniel Smith became the poster boy for the ills of the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement when the Philippine appellate court overturned the guilty verdict on him for raping iconic but faceless “Nicole”. Because of the VFA what remains of Smith in the Philippines is perhaps his ass print on some couch at the US Embassy where he was restricted while on trial.
To those opposing the VFA, Smith’s daring Houdini-ish escape from doing time in a ghastly Philippine jail is just an indication of how grossly disadvantageous the treaty is to Filipinos. Fresh from the Smith disappearing act civil society and activists are threatened by VFA which demonstrated its might in twisting the arm of judiciary.
VFA is also a sure agenda in the May 2010 elections. It will eventually be used by the opposition against the current administration whose positive stand on RP-US military exercises is clear as day. Used as a political issue against the administration, VFA will forever be etched on the Arroyo administration’s book of sins.
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The United States government has downplayed VFA as the main agenda of Clinton’s side trip to Manila en route from an APEC meeting in Singapore, although street protesters think otherwise. To them there has to be a major motivation for America’s 4th most important person to go through the hassles of a Philippine stopover aside from Malacañang’s eclectic Filipino cuisine blowout and chit-chat with her husband’s former Georgetown University chum.
Through the years, Filipinos have become suspicious of these US visits especially that in the last decade the country has become less of a favorite following the ceremonial and overdramatized shooing of the US bases on the grounds of preserving sovereignty.
The relationship between the 2 countries has been estranged for a while. It was only rekindled after the 9/11 terrorist attacks when the US realized it needs to closely watch the Philippines, particularly the southern part of the country which has been sleeping with the enemy.
Political analyst Clarita Carlos said the Philippines is somewhat essential to preserving US interests in the region now. One of such interests is the goal of the two nations to fight terrorists and expunge terrorism work horses Al Qaeda and the Jemaah Islamiyah from the country’s rear end.
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US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been articulate enough to define US intentions in the Philippines when she said in Hillary Clinton: The Manila Forum on ABS CBN that the 1999 RP-US Visiting Forces Treaty “is an important expression of our partnership”. I’m Glad she got that off her chest. Now we have a clear picture of American resolve to keep that treaty. There’s little way out.
Mrs. Clinton goes on to reiterate that with the VFA, “the US stands ready to assist friends in the Philippines who are seeking to counter terrorism and radical extremism”.
And do we need help? Perhaps we do.
I mean it’s not like we have the best equipment to fight bandits or terrorists in Mindanao no matter what the AFP Modernization Program prays it will achieve in due time. Modernization always gets least priority in government spending and the miniscule funds for the purchase of military equipment are also depleted by corruption.
Besides, a provision of the VFA states that we get priority for US Army derelicts and we are no choosy scavengers. I’d hate to admit it but poor a country as we are, the chances of getting dependable war equipment for now is through hand me downs.
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The VFA also promises to bring humanitarian missions in terrorist lairs. Humanitarian missions are envisioned to eventually bring social and economic development in war torn areas.
Humanitarian missions send a message to the affected communities that they need to work closely with the government in fighting terrorism by not supporting terrorists and help troops zero in on the targets. The VFA promises aid, social reform, education and livelihood help build communities that are not sympathetic to terrorism.
It really brings something the government cannot be relied on to accomplish… a government that even depends on other countries to fight its own war.
