News peg: The DFA secretary and Defense Secretary said that in case of any Nokor attack on US territory, the Philippines would host US military bases as launching pad and military station.
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The following is the specific provision of the Constitution on military bases:
“Art. XVIII . Transitory Provisions. Section 25. After the expiration in 1991 of the Agreement between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America concerning military bases, foreign military bases, troops, or facilities shall not be allowed in the Philippines except under a treaty duly concurred in by the Senate and, when the Congress so requires, ratified by a majority of the votes cast by the people in a national referendum held for that purpose, and recognized as a treaty by the other contracting State.”
Here’s the policy statement of Malacaňang made five months ago on occasion of Veterans Day : From the Office of the President at president.gov. ph, November 12, 2012: “Palace says there are no plans to allow Americans to put up military bases in the country
“Malacanang made an assurance Monday there were no plans to allow the return of American military bases in the country despite the announcement of the Obama administration to increase military presence in the Asia Pacific region.
“ “There are no basing arrangements with the Americans. That has been ruled out,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Monday during the regular press briefing in Malacanang.
“Allowing the US to revive its military bases in the Philippines is not consistent with the country’s 1987 Constitution, Lacierda said. xxx xxx
“During the commemoration of the Veterans’ Day at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig City Sunday, US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. said the US government has no plans of putting up military bases in the Philippines despite President Barack Obama’s Pacific Rim policy. Under the new US policy, the American military aims to refocus its forces in the Asia Pacific region.
“Thomas said, however, that the US military will continue giving extensive trainings to Philippine military personnel under the existing military tie up.
“Aside from providing the Filipino soldiers’ training, the US military is also committed in assisting the Philippines by extending humanitarian assistance particularly during calamities, he said.
“Under its military engagement in the Asia Pacific region, the US government has increased its military presence in Singapore and Australia.
“In 1991, the Philippine Senate voted to shut down US military bases in Clark and Subic. The last American forces left in 1992.”
MaribuBot, of articial intelligence (she’s my hardworking, intelligent Bot), on her own, without any prompting from me, gathered these news stories on human strife, conflict, and art based on web metrics:
ξ Parties need not be marginalized to run as partylists. “xxx The SC decision states that partylist groups need not be “marginalized or underrepresented” to run in the partylist elections.xxx Majority of the 54 previously disqualified partylists might be allowed to run again in the May 13 midterm elections under the new guidelines issued by the Supreme Court (SC), Commission on Elections chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said on Friday.” inquirer
ξ “Brillantes on party-list ruling: I don’t like it” rappler
∩ “4 die in Batangas accident” tempo.
♠ “US, Philippine troops start war games amid China tensions” by Cecil Morella, Agence France Presse thru Yahoo Philippines
ν “Caravan vs 2013 Balikatan military exercises ongoing” “Progressive groups are hounding the 2013 joint US-RP military exercises, which begins today, to protest the continuous assault on the country’s sovereignty, the human rights violations resulting from it and the toxic wastes it leaves behind.” Bulatlat
ÿ “The known unknowns of Kim Jong-un” xxx “As far as personal tastes go, his apparent affection for amusement parks and Disney characters sits oddly with his position as supreme commander of the world’s fifth-largest army with an emerging nuclear arsenal.xxx” by Giles Hewitt, Agence France-Presse thru ABS-CBN
ÿ ” Statement of support for the Korean people against US provocations and nuclear threats”xxx “We condemn in the strongest terms the continuing US military control over South Korea, the constant nuclear weapons in US military bases and aircraft carriers and the joint military exercises of the US and the South Korean puppet government. All these violate the national sovereignty of the Korean people, threaten the DPRK and run counter to the desire of the Korean people for peaceful reunification.” by Jose Maria Sison thru Bulatlat
∩ “Comelec plans to ban motorcades on 18 major Metro Manila roads” inquirer
Λ “Basic wins 3 geothermal energy contracts” inquirer
♥ “Cash prizes, scholarships for Palaro winners” rappler
♥ “Art Spark: A Guide to the Philippine Art World” Inflight thru Yahoo Philippines
