Can't we look any better than a banana republic?

[Lee]

Quote

 

NOT long ago, Manila virtually ran out of working space for the Chinese horde that came to engage in online gaming. Known as Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) they created a minor boom in the property market, with all its positive and negative effects. But online gambling by the POGOs quickly branched out into other illegal activities, prompting the Philippine government to adopt corrective measures. Now, a similar property boom is reportedly shaping up from early speculations that the American GIs are coming back with their military bases.

One property owner in Bonifacio Global City told me her high-rise condo has just been taken over by some "CIA contractor-types" who are still looking for more high-end residences to lease.

From her reported conversation with the Americans, she gathered that the return of the bases, which closed down upon the termination of the Philippine-US military bases agreement in 1991, was no longer subject to speculation, but was as sure as the next sunrise. The Americans apparently know it; only the Filipino people, in whom the nation's sovereignty resides and from whom all government authority emanates, do not know it. Yet, the American politicians and their armed forces cannot possibly know it unless the Marcos government has assured them they could have their military bases back. Perhaps this is what the Marcos government wants; but is it also what we, Filipinos, want? More than that, is it what we really need?

Have we even talked about it?

Our frequently quoted Section 25, Article XVIII of the Constitution provides: "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 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."

The constitutional prohibition cannot be any clearer than that. Yet the government has not hesitated to violate it by entering into an executive agreement, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), signed by the Philippine defense secretary (Voltaire Gazmin) and the US ambassador (Philip Goldberg) in 2014, granting the US forces operational sites inside Philippine military bases for use in its possible war with China. The original violator was President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino 3rd, followed by Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Just because the nation has not risen in arms against EDCA does not mean the military sites are constitutionally valid and that there could be a groundswell in favor of a new regime for the bases. They are not, and we do not see or hear our people calling for a return of the bases.

It must be assumed that Sec. 25 of Article XVIII continues to enjoy popular support, just as the rest of the Constitution enjoys popular support. If the government wishes to contest that assumption, it must first ascertain the real sentiment of our people, and the best way to do so is through a national referendum, held precisely for that purpose, rather than a mere opinion survey which crooked pollsters can always rig. Of course, if the Constitution is revised, as in fact it is being proposed to be revised, the constituent assembly or the constitutional convention, whichever body is in charge, can propose the abolition of the same provision which, next only to the proposed shift to parliamentary government, could become the defining provision of the new document.

But it would not be enough to remove the prohibition on foreign bases, troops or facilities in the Philippines alone. The Congress or the constitutional convention will have to revise as well the other relevant provisions that define the present anti-war orientation of the Philippine state. These include the provision renouncing war as an instrument of national policy; the provision declaring an independent foreign policy; and the provision declaring the Philippines as a nuclear weapons-free state.

By allowing the US bases to operate in the country, the Philippines will have made itself an instrument of US war-making policy and a virtual military protectorate. It will have ceased to have any claim to an independent foreign policy and adopted US foreign policy as its own. As host to nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed ships, submarines and aircraft, and most likely the depository of some nuclear weapons within its territory, it will have also ceased to be a nuclear weapons-free state. It will have to renounce its membership in the treaty creating the Southeast Asian nuclear weapons-free zone, which it signed in Bangkok with nine other Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members on Dec. 15, 1995. The Asean may not look too kindly on the Philippines if it abandons this solemn agreement.

What would the Philippine state look like after such constitutional revisions? Can it still claim better standing than the last banana republic? Is this something Marcos would like to meditate upon, on top of his father's grave? Or pass on as his legacy to the next generation of Filipinos? In his heart of hearts, can he say this is really what he had hoped to do for the country when he ran in 2022, or is it simply the nonnegotiable price he must pay for the privilege of being president?

 

 

Can't we look any better than a banana republic? (msn.com)

[craftbeerlover]

16 minutes ago, Lee said:

 

Can't we look any better than a banana republic? (msn.com)

I read a lot of anti american rhetoric on Manila Times as well.   A VAST majority of the comments slam the authors.   When you mix some truth with rhetoric/unfounded claims it is easy to stir the masses, which is what this author is attempting. 

[Mike J]

So the source is "One property owner in Bonifacio Global City told me her high-rise condo has just been taken over by some "CIA contractor-types" who are still looking for more high-end residences to lease."  

And the rest of the story is to amend the constitution and bring back American bases. 

Edited January 5 by Mike J

[MotorSarge]

Right now, there are 5+ bases that have permanent rotating US Forces under the new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) in the PI.

We are also revitalizing the Tinian Air Base south of Saipan with permanent rotating forces.

All it will take is a few more wrong tics of the Chinos to set the signal for some folks to line their pockets and these will become permanent non-rotational.

I have a 6 pack of Red Horse it happens in less than 5 years.. 

[scott h]

21 minutes ago, MotorSarge said:

I have a 6 pack of Red Horse it happens in less than 5 years.

Hope your right....Be so flipping cool to have a PX and a commissary without having to fly to Guam.

 

[Lee1154]

The US military coming back here is all for show.  The trilateral commission has divided the world and China gets Asia.  Currently the US military cannot even meet their quotas for volunteers.  Does anyone really believe that the USA will shed blood for Philippine Islands?  Right now the Navy is all over the Middle East.  What are they doing?  They are shooting down $200 drones with much more expensive missiles.  The US will not even take on Yemen much less China.  Everything is for show now!  Spending money to keep the military industrial complex fed is all that is happening.

[MotorSarge]

11 minutes ago, Lee1154 said:

Does anyone really believe that the USA will shed blood for Philippine Islands?

Nope....Never stated shedding blood for the PI....where did you fathom that thought from.. 

[MotorSarge]

18 minutes ago, Lee1154 said:

The US military coming back here is all for show.

Your right...All for show....Close expedient active presence in itself is a "Close Active Lethal Force." 

Name another country besides Brittain & (Israel) that can deploy As much, As fast, As lethal, As Silent, As much Equipment...etc.

Pull Over Bro....you've been asleep under the coconut trees for far too long.

[OnMyWay]

20 hours ago, Lee said:

Now, a similar property boom is reportedly shaping up from early speculations that the American GIs are coming back with their military bases.

One property owner in Bonifacio Global City told me her high-rise condo has just been taken over by some "CIA contractor-types" who are still looking for more high-end residences to lease.

Bullshit

[craftbeerlover]

3 hours ago, Lee1154 said:

The US military coming back here is all for show.  The trilateral commission has divided the world and China gets Asia.  Currently the US military cannot even meet their quotas for volunteers.  Does anyone really believe that the USA will shed blood for Philippine Islands?  Right now the Navy is all over the Middle East.  What are they doing?  They are shooting down $200 drones with much more expensive missiles.  The US will not even take on Yemen much less China.  Everything is for show now!  Spending money to keep the military industrial complex fed is all that is happening.

who is the author?