U.S.-RP military deal delay criticized

U.S.-RP military deal delay criticized

MANILA (AFP): A member of a US Congress mission expressed disappointment yesterday at a delayed agreement to allow joint military training with the Philippines.

"I am personally disappointed that the Philippines has been slow in ratifying the agreement with the US because our ships can't come in here unless it's ratified and that's part of the two-way street" former senator Larry Pressler, here with the US congress's National Security Caucus (NSC), said.

Pressler was part of an NSC mission that met Philippine President Fidel Ramos yesterday. The proposed visiting forces agreement provides a legal framework for the prosecution of US soldiers participating in the maneuvers who commit crimes here.

The absence of such an agreement has prevented US forces from conducting training exercises or even ship visits in the Philippines despite a mutual defense treaty between the two.