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Philippines Worried U.S. Security Pact Could Draw It into Iraq War

"The U.S. has time and again manifested its intention on Iraq. Is this also our national intent," Guingona asked

MANILA, November 22 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Vice President Teofisto Guingona said Friday, November 22, he was concerned about the wording of a military agreement the Philippines signed with the United States this week, warning that it could draw Manila into a U.S. war on Iraq.

But President Gloria Arroyo's government dismissed Guingona's concerns, saying the document had no secret agenda, Agence France-Presse (AFP) said.

The Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) commits both allies to exchange fuel, supplies and non-lethal equipment, but Guingona criticized vagueness in the wording of the accord, said AFP.

He cited a section of the accord that commits both militaries to cooperative efforts "within Philippine territory or outside Philippine territory in cases where either party, or both, have decided to participate."

"In the wake of the issues confronting the Middle East, we ask: Does not cooperative efforts other than activities under existing U.S.-Philippine agreements include activities of a military campaign in which one party is involved and the other party is not?" asked Guingona.

"The U.S. has time and again manifested its intention on Iraq. Is this also our national intent? If the activity entails sending troops there, does this mean that we should do likewise? Will this be to the nation's benefit?" he added.

Arroyo spokesman Ignacio Bunye told reporters, however, the cooperative efforts all dealt with "non-war or non-military activities" such as "humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and rescue operations and maritime anti-pollution operations."

He added: "There is no effort to bypass anybody."

The independent-minded Guingona was eased out of Arroyo's cabinet, where he served as foreign secretary, earlier this year after he publicly opposed the deployment of U.S. Special Forces in the southern Philippines for an "anti-terror" mission.

Guingona said he has formally asked his replacement in the cabinet, Foreign Secretary Blas Ople, to explain to him "some remaining concerns that I have" over the agreement.

Guingona added: "We say to our strongest ally, if you really desire to strengthen our drive for meaningful peace and order, lend us the tools and the technology, and we will do the job. But do not impose on us."

He criticized the Arroyo government for passing off the MLSA "as a simple, boring administrative and accounting agreement" that it did not see fit to go through ratification by the Filipino senate.

Guingona said the Philippine constitution states it is the Senate who should decide, not only military officers representing both nations, if Filipino troops should go to war.

 

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