October 6, 2003, The Manila Times, US funds 'linked' to bases, by Jowie F. Corpuz,

October 6, 2003, The Manila Times, US funds 'linked' to bases, by Jowie F. Corpuz, Correspondent

A ranking government official has warned of the financial assistance being offered by the United States to the country, saying this maybe a way to trick the Filipinos into accepting the return of American bases here.

“We should be cautious about the various financial and economic aid being given to us by the United States, they [Americans] maybe trying to brainwash our own people so that the clamor for the return of their bases would come from within,” said Amado Valdez, executive director of the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement.

He noted that the US government had pledged around $74 million in official development assistance apparently to help the Philippines prop up its ailing economy.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople has hinted that there might be a signing of Usaid when US President George W. Bush arrives in the country on October 18 for an eight-hour state visit.

Ople said the financial assistance is intended to achieve peace and stability particularly in conflict-stricken Mindanao. 

But Valdez said the Philippines must learn how to read the real intentions of the US government in offering assistance to the country.

“[Although] we are free to accept the assistance that they are giving us, we should be quick to find out the subtle propaganda they are doing. If the Filipinos start thinking that the bases should return because [the Americans] help us, then they could always say that ‘we did not bully you into accepting our bases back,’” he pointed out.

Valdez said his office is actually pushing for the conversion of former US military bases in Clark and Subic into international commercial facility so other foreign military troops and not just the Americans can use it for training purposes.

“I actually suggested that the bases in Clark and Subic be converted into international commercial facility so the Americans would not be tempted to push for the return of their bases,” he said.

However, US Ambassador to Manila Francis Ricciardone has insisted that his government was not pushing for the return of American bases in the Philippines.

“We’re not interested in having these bases in the Philippines. Those days were gone and we do not think it is a good idea that the Filipinos invest in nostalgia,” Ricciardone told journalists in a gathering.

Several militant sectors accused the United States of bullying the Philippines as well as other smaller countries into accepting their offers and demands.

But Ricciardone defended Washington by repeatedly saying that his government did not bully any foreign country.

“We are not bullies. It’s a bullying tactic calling us bullies. We did not insist, demand or bully anyone. We just offer,” Ricciardone said.