Press statement of Senator Chiz Escudero

ON THE DEATHS OF US SOLDIERS IN JOLO

I condole with the families of two US servicemen and three Filipino soldiers reported killed in a landmine explosion triggered by terrorists in Indanan, Sulu.

In a situation where American troops are embedded in our own military, casualties are inevitable in a war of attrition.

It is my hope that this incident will not lead to direct US involvement in combat operations against those who seek to impose their will on us by force of arms.

Indeed, now is the time to renegotiate the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) to clarify the US role and presence in Mindanao and to correct the onerous provisions of the treaty.

Let me also reiterate that peace and development in Mindanao will only be realized when injustice and poverty, compounded by long-standing neglect, are resolutely addressed by government.