Loren twits GMA on VFA

Sen. Loren Legarda yesterday deplored that the Philippine government has to depend on US military forces to protect and transport government prosecutors to Sulu to prosecute members of the Abu Sayaff as admitted by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Loren said this revelation was "shocking because it would appear that the Arroyo administration is helpless in prosecuting violators of the law, including accused terrorists, without the help of a foreign power like the United States. Loren was commenting on the speech of President Arroyo at Camp Aguinaldo last Wednesday (Sept. 3) in which she disclosed that US troops provided "safety" and transportation to government prosecutors who had gone to Sulu to prosecute Aby Sayaff members.

In her speech to a World War II Veterans assembly at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, President Arroyo also said in Tagalog that at that time government prosecutors were "afraid" to go to Sulu but because of the help given by the US military forces, they were able to do so and now prosecution is proceeding smoothly.

Loren said that the administration of justice and the enforcement of the laws are not among the activities or duties assigned to US military forces in the Philippines in the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement.

She explained that the RP-US VFA only allowed American troops to stay temporarily in Philippine territory for the purpose of conducting joint US-Philippine military exercises and providing combat training and handling of military equipment. US troops are also allowed to engage in "soft" power like building schools, roads and bridges.

"But they are not supposed to enforce our laws in our own land, because we are mandated to do that ourselves," said Loren, who was among the senators that voted nay to the VFA when it came up to the Senate for concurrence.

"Any government that cannot enforce its own laws or protect its own prosecutors and others engaged in dispensing justice will have no business to exist," said Loren.

Earlier, Loren called for the review of the VFA provisions following reports that the "apparently permanent presence" of the US military forces in the country and their alleged involvement in anti-insurgency activities were violating the "spirit" of the VFA.

In the speech of the President posted at the Office of the President website, the President said:

"Andaming naitutulong ng mga Amerikano sa ating laban kontra sa terorismo lalo na tuwing nagkakaron ng meeting ang inyong lingkod at ang Pangulo mas gumaganda ang tulong. Halimbawa ngayon meron tayong mga kaso kontra sa mga Abu Sayyaf, yung ating mga prosecutors ay tinutulungan ng American forces sa kanilang safety, sa kanilang transportation at lahat-lahat kaya gumaganda ang prosecution. Kasi nung araw halos walang gustong pumunta sa Sulu magprosecute dahil natatakot ngunit dahil tinutulungan sila sa mga facilities, while Americans cannot find on the ground, they can help in so many other ways. So those are some of the ways that many don't know about by which they help our fight against terrorism."