Full U.S. ally status timely for RP<\/p>\n
Agencies, Manila<\/p>\n
President George W. Bush's decision giving full U.S. military
\nally status to the Philippines will boost the country's defense
\ncapabilities as it deals with increasing threats from terror and
\ninsurgent groups, analysts say.<\/p>\n
Bush promised after talks with President Gloria Arroyo at the
\nWhite House on Monday to make the Philippines a non-NATO ally of
\nthe United States, clearing the way for increased U.S. military
\nloans, cut-price U.S. military equipment and other military
\nbenefits.<\/p>\n
"That will prop up the war against terror in the Philippines
\nif we get those (military aid) packages on time," said
\nCongressman Prospero Pichay, head of the House defense committee.<\/p>\n
"We need it very badly. If they can deliver to us as soon as
\npossible then that will really help deliver a big blow to the
\nenemy," he said.<\/p>\n
The Philippines only has 18 helicopters and two OV-10 attack
\nplanes as well as six helicopter gunships and two C-130 transport
\nplanes.<\/p>\n
"We don't have much equipment," said Pichay.<\/p>\n
Arroyo also obtained from Bush a pledge of a new joint
\nmilitary effort to finally crush the Abu Sayyaf, a small group of
\nMoro guerrillas linked to the al-Qaeda terror network.<\/p>\n
He also offered her US$30 million in new aid for training and
\nequipping the Philippine military.<\/p>\n
As a special non-NATO ally, the Philippines would be given
\npriority in receiving excess U.S. military surplus, allow it to
\nstockpile equipment and make it eligible to participate in
\nresearch and development programs, the U.S. embassy said.<\/p>\n
Other countries that enjoy similar status are Australia,
\nBahrain, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Argentina, South Korea and
\nNew Zealand. The Philippines is the first Southeast Asian country
\nto get this status.<\/p>\n
"This is a most welcome development for us, particularly the
\narmed forces," military vice chief of staff Lt. Gen. Rodolfo
\nGarcia said. "This would translate into added assistance in the
\neconomic and military levels."<\/p>\n
Hours before embarking on the U.S. trip on Saturday, Arroyo
\nordered a military offensive against the 12,500-strong Muslim
\nseparatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the southern
\nPhilippines.<\/p>\n
Apart from the Abu Sayyaf, the military is also struggling
\nwith the communist New People's Army (NPA), the 9,000-strong
\nguerrilla arm of the underground Communist Party of the
\nPhilippines waging a decades long insurgency.<\/p>\n
Washington has labeled the Abu Sayyaf and the NPA as
\nterrorists while the MILF has been accused of having ties with
\nthe Jamaah Islamiyah, which in turn is allegedly linked to al-
\nQaeda.<\/p>\n
Although the two countries have long been military allies,
\nmany Filipinos feel the country was not getting enough U.S.
\nattention as a frontline state in the war against terror.<\/p>\n
"People have been complaining here about the type of military
\npackages we were getting: night vision goggles and small arms,"
\nsaid Joey Silva, associate director of the Asian Institute of
\nManagement policy forum, a local think-tank.<\/p>\n
Separately, the MILF rebels on Tuesday welcomed Bush's offer
\nof financial and political assistance to end their decades-old
\ninsurgency, but said they have no choice but to fight a
\ncontinuing Philippine military offensive.<\/p>\n
Presidential Chief of Staff Rigoberto Tiglao said the
\nfour-day-old offensive has been largely successful with 70 rebels
\nkilled and no civilian casualties and could end within days.
\nAbout 17,000 people have been displaced, but officials said they
\nwere arranging for their return.<\/p>\n
Rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu denied any rebels were killed, and
\nsaid the MILF welcomes U.S. offers of assistance.<\/p>",
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