Kabataan Party-list Rep. Mong Palatino today challenged presidential aspirants to take a stand against the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), as the nation commemorates the anniversary of the Philippine Senate’s rejection of a 10-year bases treaty with the United States.

Sept. 16, 1991 marks in history the Philippine Senate’s resounding “no” vote to a proposal that would have allowed the US military bases to stay in the Philippines for another 10 years. Now, under the VFA, US troops are once again being given free reign to operate in Philippine soil.

Palatino challenged administration bet Sec. Gilbert ‘Gibo’ Teodoro, a known staunch defender of the VFA, to re-think and evaluate his stand if he really is bent on pursuing the presidency.

“His reputation as a constant defender of the lopsided VFA, a policy that is one of dependence and mendicancy, does not place him in a particularly good light among freedom and democracy-loving youths,” Palatino said.
The young solon said VFA advocates like Teodoro have helped the US ensure that the Philippines “remains at the losing end” of foreign relations. “The US has used the VFA to violate the constitutional prohibition on foreign military presence and intervention in Philippine affairs,” he said.

“As early as  now, he is already being touted as ‘courting the US vote’.” Teodoro has reportedly met with US officials in Washington, Robert Gates at the Pentgon and Central Intelligence Agency Director Leon Panetta, on the even of the 8th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Palatino said that his challenge stands not only for Teodoro but for all presidential aspirants. “They should make clear their stand on the VFA and other one-sided international military and economic treaties. These are included in  the youth’s primary criteria in choosing our new leaders in 2010.”

“Hinahamon ng kabataan ang lahat ng tatakbong pangulo na ulitin ang ginawa ng Senado noong 1991, nang ibinasura nila ang isang treaty na magpapahaba pa sa pananatili ng US military installations sa Pilipinas. Now that there is still military presence in the Philippines, I challenge them to uphold national sovereignty,” he said. ###