From the Business Mirror (Dec 23): Fishermen’s group scores DOJ silence on construction of US mini-naval base
THE Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Sunday chided Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for her silence on the reported construction of a mini-naval base for US troops in Palawan.
De Lima had been asked by the group to look into the plan of the Armed Forces to build a base on Oyster Bay more than three months ago.
Pamalakaya Vice Chairman Salvador France said de Lima has not come up with a response to the group’s letter dated October 7 that was received by her office on the same day.
The Department of National Defense has announced that a total of five bidders have been declared eligible to bid for two projects to upgrade the Navy’s detachment on Oyster Bay, which is facing the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
The plan to construct a mini-naval base is expected to enhance the external defense capability of the Armed Forces at the West Philippine Sea, particularly in the Spratly Group of Islands, which is being disputed by the Philippines and China.
The mini-naval base project in Oyster Bay is part of the US agenda to increase its military presence in the Philippines on rotational basis, France said.
“It is designed to host warships of Washington not only to check the disturbing presence of Chinese military on West Philippine Sea but to preserve the military hegemony of the US in East Asia and the Pacific in the name of military program known as US Pivot in Asia,” France added.
In seeking a Department of Justice investigation on the mini-naval base project for US troops on Oyster Bay, Pamalakaya cited the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which strictly prohibits foreign military bases in the country.
Pamalakaya also added that the impact of Oyster Bay naval base project to the livelihood of fishermen and the marine environment is “far reaching, extremely dangerous and totally catastrophic.”
The group said Oyster Bay is well recognized by the international community as a very rich area in marine biodiversity and any plan to alter or change the nature of the bay will have adverse impact on the livelihood of the fishermen in the area.