MANILA, Philippines – Target ng Pilipinas na pumirma ng Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) kasama ang Canada, France, at New Zealand, sinabi ni Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr.
“We are going to work on an RAA hopefully with Canada, with France, (also) with New Zealand and with other countries that escaped my memory,” ayon kay Teodoro sa panayam ng ANC nitong Lunes, Hulyo 22.
Sinabi ng DND chief na ang mga kasunduang ito sa tatlong bansa ay sisentro sa interoperability sa pagitan ng mga military force.
“They will all look the same, they will allow (the) Armed Forces of these different countries to operate with the Philippine Armed Forces within the Philippine territorial jurisdictions and vice versa so it will increase interoperability between these countries,” dagdag ni Teodoro.
Ang unang RAA ng bansa kasama ang Japan ay pinirmahan noong Hulyo 8, na layong alisin ang restriksyon as military-to-military exchange sa pagitan ng Armed Forces of the Philippines at Japan Self Defense Force.
Umaasa si Teodoro na magsisimula na ang usapin sa posibleng RAA sa tatlong bansa sa susunod na taon.
“Hopefully by next year, it is not easy to negotiate the RAA, and that’s why we want a Defense Transformation Bill to come out because our staff is limited,” dagdag pa niya.
Sa kabila ng pagkakaroon lamang ng 267 emleyado, sinabi ni Teodoro na ang negosasyon at pagsasapinal ng RAA sa Japan ay maituturing na ‘big accomplishment.’
“I’m very proud with what everybody is doing in this department despite its handicap so I hope our legislators listen and capacitate us so that we can do more,” dagdag niya. RNT/JGC
