From Rappler (Feb 10): Problems in the PH-US bases access deal?
![OUT OF THE PANEL: Foreign Affairs assistant secretary Carlos Soreta. Rappler file photo]( "OUT OF THE PANEL: Foreign Affairs assistant secretary Carlos Soreta. Rappler file photo")
![PHILIPPINE PANEL CHAIRMAN: Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino. Rappler file photo]( "PHILIPPINE PANEL CHAIRMAN: Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino. Rappler file photo")
PHILIPPINE PANEL CHAIRMAN: Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino. Rappler file photo
http://www.rappler.com/nation/50170-problems-philippines-us-bases-deal
OUT OF THE PANEL: Foreign Affairs assistant secretary Carlos Soreta. Rappler file photo
Just when President Benigno Aquino III said the Philippines and the US were close to concluding a military deal that would increase the presence of American troops in the Philippines
Department of Foreign Affairs assistant secretary Carlos Soreta has left the Philippine panel, the government confirmed.
"It's part of the rotation scheme of the officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs. He is now the head of the Foreign Service Institute," foreign affairs spokesperson Raul Hernandez told Rappler in a text message on Monday, February 10.
Soreta no longer participated in the 5th round of talks held in Washington DC
Asked if there are problems with the negotiations with the US
When the talks began in August 2013, initial press releases introduced Soreta as the chairman of the Philippine panel. This was amended in succeeding announcements to show that Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino is panel chairman.
It is, after all, a military-to-military agreement intended to allow increased rotational presence of American troops in the Philippines
The panel has always been tightlipped about the details, but they gave assurances the agreement would abide by the Constitution. The panel also maintains that it doesn't need ratification by the Senate, like other agreements with other countries.
"The agreement will just be an implementing document for the Mutual Defense Treaty and Visiting Forces Agreement," Batino said in a recent interview. (READ: Enrile: US access to PH bases may violate law)
Impasse last year
The talks reached an impasse after Round 4 of talks in October 2013. The Philippine panel allowed the US to construct "temporary" facilities in the Philippines but the US panel sought to limit the access of the Philippines
"It is very opportune that there will be more time to study these things....There would be substantial work to be done internally by the Philippine panel to study and review possibilities on the remaining issues." (Bases access: PH, US disagree on 'critical provisions')
"Personally I would have to conduct substantial study and examination of issues," Batino added then. (Watch the video here.)
Informal talks were held in December 2013 before Round 5 in January. Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin vowed we would insist on equal access. (READ: PH to press 'equal access' to US facilities in bases deal)
Round 6 will be held in March.
Panel chair remains optimistic
Despite the shake up, the President told the New York Times in a February 4 interview that the military-to-military agreement is nearing completion.
Batino is optimistic. "We’re hopeful. We're hopeful that both parties will be able to come into agreement at the soonest possible time," he told Rappler on the sidelines of a recent Senate hearing.
PHILIPPINE PANEL CHAIRMAN: Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino. Rappler file photo
Here’s a verbatim transcript of an ambush interview with Batino following Aquino's New York Times interview.
Q: The President said you are close to a deal?
Batino: We see great prospect in the finalization of negotiations in the near future.
Batino: We see great prospect in the finalization of negotiations in the near future.
Q: Near future? What is the timeline?
Batino: It’s a negotiation and therefore one party does not control.
Batino: It’s a negotiation and therefore one party does not control.
Q: The next round of talks will happen in March. Are we going to expect possible signing then?
Batino: We’re hopeful. We're hopeful that both parties will be able to come into agreement at the soonest possible time.
Batino: We’re hopeful. We're hopeful that both parties will be able to come into agreement at the soonest possible time.
Q: What is the status of talks on the equal access to facilities?
Batino: With respect to certain items also in consideration, we cannot divulge anything yet.
Batino: With respect to certain items also in consideration, we cannot divulge anything yet.
Q: The defense secretary said the Philippines
Batino: Yes. Just like that we promised that the agreement will be consistent with the fundamental principles of sovereignty.
Batino: Yes. Just like that we promised that the agreement will be consistent with the fundamental principles of sovereignty.
Q:This deal will not need Senate approval?
Batino: The agreement will just be an implementing document for the Mutual Defense Treaty and Visiting Forces Agreement.
Batino: The agreement will just be an implementing document for the Mutual Defense Treaty and Visiting Forces Agreement.
The US used to have bases in the Philippines
It is against the backdrop of growing maritime disputes that the Philippines Asia .
http://www.rappler.com/nation/50170-problems-philippines-us-bases-deal