MANILA, Philippines – Walang indikasyon na aalisin ng Estados Unidos ang mga military asset nito sa Pilipinas, ayon sa isang senior military official nitong Biyernes, Marso 13.
“There are no indications of the US pulling out military assets from the Philippines. The situation in South Korea involves specific air defense systems being redeployed to the Middle East, which is a separate theater arrangement and does not apply here,” sinabi ni Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea and Inspector General, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad.
Hindi naman tinukoy ni Trinidad kung ano ang mga US asset na ito sa Pilipinas para sa security reasons.
Ang tugon niya ay nang tanungin kung naghahanda ba ang US sa pag-pull out ng kaparehong assets mula sa bansa katulad ng ginawa sa South Korea kung saan inalis nila ang Patriot air defense missile batteries at bahagi ng THAAD anti-missile systems nito para i-redeploy sa Middle East.
“The upward trajectory of the RP-US alliance is manifested in our continuing maritime activities, strengthened MDB-SEB (Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board) engagements, and the recent approval of the Philippine Enhanced Resilience Act authorizing USD2.5 billion in security assistance over the next five years,” ani Trinidad.
Idinagdag pa niya na ang Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites, kung saan may access ang US ay nasa loob ng Philippine bases at ang mga pasilidad na ito ay para sa mutual defense at humanitarian assistance.
Sinabi pa ng opisyal na ang EDCA sites na ito ay hindi pinapayagang gamitin bilang staging areas para sa offensive operations.
“Our alliance with the US continues to strengthen, and there has been no change in the level of support being provided,” pagtatapos ni Trinidad. RNT/JGC
