Press Release
August 12, 2013

TRANSCRIPT: On increased rotational presence
of US Forces in the Philippines

Q: Sir ano po yung tingin nyo sa plan ng AFP at DND na mag-negotiate for increase US military presence?

SAFT: I believe that is an operational matter na baka hindi naman kakailanganin ng consent ng Senado so sana pag-aralan muna nila bago nila i-hype.

Q: Pero yun nga dahil may hype nga, Sir, is there something more of it than what they are telling?

SAFT: I don't know. Itong si Secretary Del Rosario, he is drawing attention to himself. I don't why. Ang sa akin dito, let say mag-increase ng rotational presence, yan ay dapat hindi nakakabit sa anumang national security crisis, dapat yan ay completely within the context of training and upgrading the military capabilities.

Q: But they are mentioning, Sir, the tension sa China as the context.

SAFT: Hindi kasi kailangan yung mga ganung statements that's uncalled for kay Secretary Del Rosario. Lumalabas na naman yung pagka-war freak nya rito. In fact, dapat that's a defense matter, it's not a foreign relations matter. National security concern yan, dapat si Secretary Gazmin lang ang magsasalita sa ganung aspeto. Ang dapat tignan natin dito ay purely training purposes and upgrade of military capability.

Q: Sir, is there a need to change the set up now?

SAFT: The way I see it, yung increase rotational presence na sinasabi nila, once again, is an operational matter, and it may not require a new agreement altogether. Baka kailangan lang siguro ay new implementing guidelines of the MLSA or the VFA, but hindi na kailangan ng completely new agreement.

Q: As it is, Sir, mag-start na daw yung framework this Wednesday, at saka ano sa tingin nyo ang kakulangan pa para mag-increase ng rotational presence? Sa military ngayon, sa present agreement?

SAFT: Sa ngayon, wala akong nakikita. So kung may konting hinihingi lang yung US Forces, baka nga additional implementing guidelines lang yan or within the framework lang yan ng MLSA or VFA.

Q: Sir, the way you see it, ang US Forces ang may hinihingi sa Philippines, not the other way around?

SAFT: I'm not saying anything. Kasi kung sa atin sila may hinihingi bakit kailangan nilang mag-require, ng additional implementing guidelines.

Q: Nabanggit nyo kanina war freak na naman si Secretary Del Rosario, ano po yung mga unang insidente?

SAFT: Nakita nyo ang nangyari dito sa Taiwan. It's very very sad because of the hostile foreign policy position ni Secretary Del Rosario, nahawa yung mga tropa natin sa baba. Akala nila nasa war mode tayo, so ngayon nung nagkaroon ng opportunity medyo alert sila , yun na nga nagkaputukan pero nung kinasuhan sila, iniwanan sila. Yan na ngayon ang resulta ng aggressive foreign policy statements ni Secretary Del Rosario.

Q: Pero, Sir, hindi ba dapat i-ano nya yung pag-protect sa sovereignty?

SAFT: Yes, automatic yun. Pero kasi pag naririnig ng sundalo yung national leaders na medyo hostile, yun din ang mood nyo sa baba, medyo alert kayo. Pero kapag peace lang, gagawin nyo yung trabaho nyo, susundin nyo yung rules of engagement, hindi kayo naka-alert mode, yun ang difference nun.

Q: So dahil sa nakikita nyo na hype, baka yung kano at forces ng China ang mag-away dito sa teritoryo natin, kasama rin ang Pilipinas sa nakikipag-agawan.

SAFT: I believe hindi aabot sa ganon. Palagay ko si Secretary Del Rosario lang yan e, even the Americans won't be looking that way na itong kanilang pivot dito sa Asia is because of the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China, hindi ganun. Sa kanila yan, part ng kanilang foreign policy shifting so, it's not connected in any way as far as they are concerned.

Q: Sir hindi natin pwedeng i-undermine yung China, is number two on military capability, that's the reason why US would like to increase its presence.

SAFT: Probably, but we cannot put words into their mouth also. We do it for our reasons, they do it for their reasons.

Q: If there would be a basing agreement na kasama rito, do you think it will pass the Senate scrutiny?

SAFT: Mukhang walang hinihinging ganun. Bukod sa bawal, ayon na rin sa Constitution. So walang hinihinging ganun.

Q: Sir anong hinihingi?

SAFT: Actually wala pa ngang hinihingi, magme-meeting palang kaya nagugulat ako dito sa hype kasi I was given an idea of that term, increased rotational presence, but I am looking at it as an operational matter which does not need the consent of the Senate.

Q: Sir, yung hype it can have a negative effect with our relationship with China?

SAFT: I believe so because we are making a big deal out of nothing kasi in my opinion, yung increased rotational presence is within the bound of VFA and MLSA.

Q: Sir what is the meaning of increased rotational presence, sa man power lang, training, o sa mga barko, gunship?

SAFT: I really don't know, but deducing from the term itself, probably increasing the frequency of the training.

Q: Will it include mga equipment? Sa tingin mo Sir?

SAFT: So if it's only increased frequency, it's what we have now but more frequent. So there's nothing wrong, I don't see breach of the current agreements.

Q: Sir kung nasa VFA naman po, o sa Mutual Defense Treaty, Sir, kailangan po na mayroon pa tayong ganito?

SAFT: That's the primary question that I have. Sana in-explore muna natin kung pwede na itong set-up na ito at kung kailangan lang ng additional agreement guidelines. Hindi na natin kailangan magdebate pa sa peryodiko about it, sana i-nexplore muna nila dun, pag nakita nila kailangan ng consent ng Senado, tsaka nila impormahan, i-raise sa amin, otherwise himayin nyo muna doon sa operational level.

Q: Sir, mayroon ng feedbacks from China from these developments?

SAFT: I wouldn't know.

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