Chiz to VFA Commission: Balikatan affecting local livelihood

Opposition Senator Chiz Escudero on Friday said he had asked the Visiting Forces Commission to look into reports of the adverse impacts of this year's Balikatan Exercises in Bicol provinces on the livelihood of locals, particularly that of fisherfolks.

In a letter to Edilberto Adan, executive director of the VFA Commission, Escudero said fisherfolk organizations based in Bicol called his attention to a fish ban being implemented in areas covered by the military humanitarian mission in the region.

The senator said the concern was aired by the National Federation of Small Fisherfolk Organizations in the Philippines (Pamalakaya) to him in a letter last month.

He also said there with the advance deployment of Philippine and US troops in the area, "fear and confusion among residents have likewise ensued.

"It appears that the planned Balikatan exercises in Bicol, given their scope of operation, have seriously affected the livelihood of fishermen and farmers because of the imposition of a fish ban," Escudero said in his letter.

"This is a matter too serious to be ignored since it involves the rights of our fellow Filipinos, constitutionally enshrined and mandated. Their right to livelihood and freedom of movement can and should never be curtailed, especially if this even means an accommodation of a foreign interest."

Also, Escudero called on the government to tread on the side of caution and ensure that no untoward incident happens during the conduct of the RP-US Balikatan military exercises being held this month in the Bicol provinces.

"I appreciate the humanitarian help being extended to local communities where the Balikatan exercises have been held in previous years," said the opposition senator.

"But we all know that unfortunate incidents have also happened," said Escudero, who has supported a Senate resolution calling for the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) because of its one-sided provisions on criminal jurisdiction.

The senator also said that the government should make sure that American troops involved in the wargames will not be drawn into any armed engagements with communist New People's Army (NPA) rebels who are operating in the area.

Last April 1, communist guerrillas killed three soldiers and wounded two others in an ambush in Ragay, Camarines Sur. A military spokesman said that the soldiers, who were in civilian clothes and unarmed, were conducting humanitarian projects in the province.

"This is a matter which should only be addressed by us Filipinos," Escudero said. "Foreign interference will only exacerbate this conflict."

The first batch of 345 US soldiers from Okinawa arrived on Wednesday in Tabaco City for the month-long joint exercises to be held in Sorsogon, Albay, and Masbate. They are scheduled to build school buildings, rehabilitate roads and waterworks projects, according to officials.

"While I and my fellow Bicolanos appreciate any help that will come, given the meager resources of our government, these foreign entities should keep out of our internal businesses" the senator said.