Filipino activists shout anti-US slogans during a protest against a meeting between Philippine and US officials in Manila yesterday.
MANILA: The government will assert its authority over the facilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and will deny access to United States (US) assets carrying nuclear weapons.
The assurance was made yesterday by the Philippine panel negotiating with the US on the increased rotational presence of American forces in the country.
Panel member Defence Undersecretary Pio Batino said the framework agreement on the increased rotational presence would provide an opportunity to “insist on clearer safeguards” for national concerns.
“There should be full control of Philippine authority over AFP-owned facilities. We will insist that there will be no areas exclusive to the US troops,” Batino said in a press briefing.
Meanwhile, the Philippine panel said the US assets carrying nuclear weapons would not be allowed to enter the country.
Philippine panel head Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Carlos Sorreta said mere suspicion that a US asset has nuclear weapons is enough to deny access.
“If we suspect or believe that the ship (that) they (US) ask for permission to enter has nuclear weapon, then we have the right to deny it. We actually don’t have to see it (or) actually touch the weapon,” Sorreta said.
He said both panels have agreed to respect the constitutional prohibition against nuclear weapons during the first round of negotiations last Wednesday.
Article II Section 8 of the constitution states that the Philippines, consistent with the national interest, “adopts and pursues a policy of freedom from nuclear weapons in its territory.”
The Philippine star
