GMANews.TV - Sunday, September 6
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. may be trying to hit two birds with one stone when he visits the United States, militant umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said Saturday.
Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. said Teodoro will cement the presence of US troops in Mindanao, while showing the US he will be a staunch ally - if he becomes president.
“The fact that Teodoro is a presidential aspirant puts a different spin to the US visit. He may be out to impress the US government by presenting himself as the most reliable US supporter in the country.
He may be making his presidential pitch to the US government, that he’s going to continue the foreign policy of the Arroyo administration. He may offer his personal commitment to uphold the VFA," Reyes said in an article on the Bayan website (www.bayan.ph).
Teodoro will call on his US counterpart Robert Gates at the Pentagon on Sept. 9.
He will also meet Dennis Cutler Blair, Director of National Intelligence; and Central Intelligence Agency Director Leon Edward Panetta.
Gates had announced last August 21 in the New York Times that the US will be keeping its forces under the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines in Mindanao for an undetermined period.
The announcement drew criticism from various groups and Senators. Calls are mounting for the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement with the US.
“It is not likely that Teodoro will be representing the best interests of the Philippines in that visit. Our sovereignty has been violated continuously by the presence of foreign troops and we haven’t heard the slightest protest from Teodoro and the Arroyo administration," Reyes said.
“Despite mounting calls from the Senate to abrogate the VFA, Teodoro continues to defend this one-sided pact," he added.
Veterans
An earlier statement by the Defense Department, however, said Teodoro also intends to meet with officials of the US Department of Veterans Affairs to follow up pending claims by Filipino World War II veterans for lump sum benefits under The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Out of the 31,876 claimants, 8,990 applications have been processed through the first four-and-a-half months since processing began, according to statistics released by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs(USDVA).
Of the processed claims, 3,138 were approved for veterans with US citizenship, 3,414 were approved for non-US citizens, and 2,438 applications were disapproved. There are 22,886 pending claims.
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Filipino WWII veterans who are now US citizens are entitled to a benefit of US$15,000. Non-US citizens are entitled to $9,000. - GMANews.TV
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. may be trying to hit two birds with one stone when he visits the United States, militant umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said Saturday.
Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. said Teodoro will cement the presence of US troops in Mindanao, while showing the US he will be a staunch ally - if he becomes president.
“The fact that Teodoro is a presidential aspirant puts a different spin to the US visit. He may be out to impress the US government by presenting himself as the most reliable US supporter in the country.
He may be making his presidential pitch to the US government, that he’s going to continue the foreign policy of the Arroyo administration. He may offer his personal commitment to uphold the VFA," Reyes said in an article on the Bayan website (www.bayan.ph).
Teodoro will call on his US counterpart Robert Gates at the Pentagon on Sept. 9.
He will also meet Dennis Cutler Blair, Director of National Intelligence; and Central Intelligence Agency Director Leon Edward Panetta.
Gates had announced last August 21 in the New York Times that the US will be keeping its forces under the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines in Mindanao for an undetermined period.
The announcement drew criticism from various groups and Senators. Calls are mounting for the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement with the US.
“It is not likely that Teodoro will be representing the best interests of the Philippines in that visit. Our sovereignty has been violated continuously by the presence of foreign troops and we haven’t heard the slightest protest from Teodoro and the Arroyo administration," Reyes said.
“Despite mounting calls from the Senate to abrogate the VFA, Teodoro continues to defend this one-sided pact," he added.
Veterans
An earlier statement by the Defense Department, however, said Teodoro also intends to meet with officials of the US Department of Veterans Affairs to follow up pending claims by Filipino World War II veterans for lump sum benefits under The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Out of the 31,876 claimants, 8,990 applications have been processed through the first four-and-a-half months since processing began, according to statistics released by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs(USDVA).
Of the processed claims, 3,138 were approved for veterans with US citizenship, 3,414 were approved for non-US citizens, and 2,438 applications were disapproved. There are 22,886 pending claims.
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Filipino WWII veterans who are now US citizens are entitled to a benefit of US$15,000. Non-US citizens are entitled to $9,000. - GMANews.TV