Proposed pact hits snag

Proposed pact hits snag

MANILA (AFP): A proposed military agreement that would allow U.S. warships to resupply and undergo repairs in the Philippines has hit a snag, with Filipino Defense Secretary Renato de Villa rejecting "ambiguous or objectionable" draft provisions.

De Villa told the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, in a letter made available to the press yesterday, that he has asked Manila's representative to the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Board (MDB) to clarify the draft in consultations with American counterparts.

The Philippines hosted two major U.S. military bases until 1992, when the Philippine senate voted against renewing a base treaty.

The two countries are still bound by a mutual defense treaty, in which related matters are handled by the MDB.