United States and the Philippines agrees for a stronger military cooperation

Posted by Maribojoc Bohol on January 18th, 2012 in World News

The United States and the Philippines have agreed for a stronger military cooperation following the visit of four American senators in the country on Tuesday.

President Benigno Aquino III met with Senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman, Sheldon Whitehouse and Kelly Ayotte during a courtesy call in Malacanang. McCain, Lieberman and Ayotte are all members of the US Senate Armed Services Committee.

“The senators said that they are increasing their presence in the Asia-Pacific region. As you know, they already have established bases in Australia and Singapore. There will be increased military exercises in Asia -Pacific region and that would also include the Philippines,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing on Wednesday quoting Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin who also met with the US senators, as saying.

Lacierda clarified, however, that the US is not establishing any base in the Philippines.

Lacierda said the Philippines also asked for a second Hamilton class cutter, a request that the US senators vowed to support. The first Hamilton class cutter arrived in the Philippines last August. It is now commissioned by the Philippine Navy to protect the country’s waters.

During their meeting, the President briefed the visiting US senators on the ongoing impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, Lacierda said.

“Sen. John McCain lauded the President for his high approval ratings and Senator Lieberman told the President he was impressed with the way the President handles efforts on good governance,” he added.

The Philippines welcomed the wider military cooperation between the two countries, and the Philippines is ready to engage itself in more military exercises with the US, Lacierda said.

“We profit from the experiences of joint military exercises. It enhances our experience, it improves our capabilities. We learn from the Americans,” Lacierda said.

McCain and the three other US senators paid a courtesy call on President Aquino III in Malacanang Tuesday night. Some of the Filipino officials who were also present include Gazmin, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

McCain, who represents Arizona, currently serves on the following Senate Committees during the 112th Congress: Ranking Member on the Senate Armed Services Committee; Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Committee on Indian Affairs.

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