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THE
Philippines and Australia on Thursday signed two pacts
aimed at improving security and development cooperation
between them, including a Status of Visiting Forces
Agreement (SOVFA) that paves the way for joint military
exercises.
President Arroyo and Prime Minister John Howard
witnessed the signing of the forces agreement and the
Australia-Philippines Joint Development Assistance
Strategy 2007-II at Parliament House after their
meeting.
The
forces agreement provides a comprehensive legal
framework that sets down the rights, responsibilities
and procedures to support the temporary activities of
the Armed Forces with the Australian Defense Forces,
such as the conduct of training and exercises in each
other’s territory.
The
agreement has to be concurred with by both the
Philippine Congress and the Australian Parliament. It is
expected to enhance both countries’ defense and
counterterrorism capabilities through education,
training, capacity-building, and humanitarian and
disaster relief and assistance.
“This is
an agreement that will help us to modernize and
professionalize our armed forces. It will help in our
interoperability among our forces in the fight against
terrorism. It will help us with intel[ligence] fusion.
Overall, it will be good for the battle against
terrorism,” said Mrs. Arroyo in a joint press conference
with Howard.
Howard
said the forces agreement will “pave the way for very
important counterterrorism exercises.”
On
whether it takes into account the lessons from a similar
agreement with the United States especially in terms of
criminal jurisdiction, Mrs. Arroyo said, “We will
respect the rights of the plaintiff and we will follow
due process of law. When it comes to any criminal case,
it is not really the Executive that has the final say.
It is the Judiciary and they are constitutionally
independent.”
The
RP-US VFA was tested by the rape case filed by victim
“Nicole” against Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith, where
the issue of custody of the accused became the center of
national debates.
Howard
said the development assistance agreement represents his
government’s commitment to help the
Philippines
attain its development goals in reducing poverty,
improving economic opportunities and maintaining
national stability.
He added
that while Philippine economic growth over the past
three years is “very promising,
Australia
recognizes the need to work with the
Philippines to
build on this growth and cement long-term improvements
in governance and growth, which are critical for
reducing poverty.”
Both
countries agreed to focus Australian assistance on
high-priority areas where such help would have the
strongest impact, such as fiscal management,
infrastructure investment, and better livelihood
opportunities for the Filipino poor.
Australia
would also help improve access to better quality
education in the Visayas and Mindanao.
The two
countries also agreed to cooperate in identifying
practical assistance that Australia may provide key
Philippines institutions dealing with human rights, to
be funded by an initial $250,000.
The
President is expected to return to Manila before dawn on
Friday, then leave again for a trip to
Rome and
Portugal
the following day. |
