December 13, 2001, The Philippine Star, GMA moves for logistics pact with US, by Marichu Villanueva,

December 13, 2001, The Philippine Star, GMA moves for logistics pact with US, by Marichu Villanueva, 

[At Access My Library, BBC Monitoring International Reports, titled "Philippine president sets up team to revive military logistics accord with USA".

President Arroyo has taken steps to revive the moribund Mutual Support Logistics Agreement (MSLA) that would give American forces wider access to facilities in the Philippines, short of setting up a military base here.

The president created a three-member cabinet committee to set the stage for the opening of talks with Washington on the MSLA, which was shelved following the abrogation of the RP [Republic of the Philippines]-US Military Bases Agreement (MBA) in 1992.

Mrs Arroyo designated Defence Secretary Angelo Reyes as committee chairman with Vice-President and concurrent Foreign Affairs Secretary Teofisto Guingona Jr. and Justice Secretary Hernando Perez as members.

The Reyes panel was directed to "oversee and provide direction in the formulation of the draft, taking into account pertinent constitutional provisions," as well as the country's commitments under existing mutual defense agreements and its obligations as a member of the United Nations.

The committee was given until 31 December to review and rewrite the draft MSLA for her approval.

The president also formed a technical working group composed of a representative each from the three departments.

In creating the committee, Mrs Arroyo cited the need for the country to enhance its defence capabilities to fight terrorism and other threats to national security.

She stressed that the maintenance of the MSLA with the US "will strengthen the Philippines' and that of the US-led international coalition in the fight against terrorism".

The chief executive revealed earlier that low-level talks between Manila and Washington have started to prepare the draft executive agreement that would not have to be ratified by the Philippine Senate.

Mrs Arroyo said the negotiations began following a US proposal to revive the Acquisition and Cross-Serving Agreement (ACSA) indefinitely set aside in 1994 after the termination of the MBA between the two countries.

ACSA has since been renamed MSLA which would require Senate ratification in case it is adopted by both countries.

"That's why I would rather fashion it in a way that it doesn't have to go to Congress because as it is proposed now, probably it would have to go to Congress. So it's better to specify the operational items in a way that it doesn't have to go to Congress," the president said.

She also brushed aside insinuations that she discussed the matter with US President George Bush during her 10-day working visit to the US.

Mrs Arroyo pointed out that her administration has not entered into any secret agreement granting the US new basing rights in the Philippines in exchange for her all-out support to the US-led global war against terrorism.

"There are proposals, but there is no agreement," the president stressed.

She revealed that the US proposal covered ship repair at the former US naval base at Subic Bay in Zambales and use of the Clark Air Base in Pampanga by US military aircraft.