Increased US Military Presence in the Philippines: Implications for Peace and Development in Mindanao

Lecture delivered at the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG)
Notre Dame University
Cotabato City
6 July 2012

INCREASED U.S. MILITARY
PRESENCE IN THE PHILIPPINES :
Implications for Peace and
Development in Mindanao
Rommel C. Banlaoi
Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research
Consulting – Training - Researching
Countering Political Violence and Terrorism Through Peace Research
www.pipvtr.com

U.S.-PHILIPPINES ALLIANCE:
ADDRESSING 21ST CENTURY SECURITY CHALLENGES
by
Rommel C. Banlaoi

www.pipvtr.com

• An estimated 400 Philippine Navy
sailors and 400 U.S. servicemen
are currently taking part in the
Cooperation Afloat Readiness and
Training (CARAT) 2012 exercises.
– July 2-10, 2012
– Involving:
• Four Philippine Navy ships – BRP
Magat Salamat, BRP Miguel
Malvar, BRP Salvador Abecede
and BRP Teotimo Figuracion
• Two Philippine Coast Guard
vessels - BRP Pampanga and the
PCG Helo 1636
• US Navy’s USS Vandegrift and
USNS Safeguard
www.pipvtr.com

• The Philippines has always
been supportive of United
States’ military presence in
Asia.

• Thus, it is no longer surprising
to see the Philippines warmly
welcoming the CARAT
exercises, particularly in the
context of U.S. pivot strategy
to Asia.
www.pipvtr.com

• RP-US alliance is the
cornerstone of
Philippine foreign,
defense and security
policy
– Rendered dormant in
1991
– Reinvigorated in 2001
– Enhanced in 2010

www.pipvtr.com

The 2-plus-2 meeting is the first of its kind in
the history of special relations between the
U.S. and the Philippines.

www.pipvtr.com

• The meeting aims to intensify
the habit of consultation and
cooperation on defense,
security, political, economic
and foreign policies between
the two allies.

• Moreover, the meeting
intends to solidify their
existing alliance to respond
effectively to current and
emerging security challenges
in the Asia Pacific.

www.pipvtr.com

• In the 2-plus-2 meeting, both reaffirmed the
importance of their security alliance and decided
to level up this alliance to meet the many security
challenges facing both countries.

www.pipvtr.com

• The Philippines, particularly, highlighted in this meeting
the need for the U.S. to continuously assist the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in building its capacity for
territorial defense, counter-insurgency, counter-
terrorism, and nation building.
– It meant asking from the U.S. more access to Excess Defense
Articles (EDA), greater priority to International Military
Education and Training (IMET), and more grants from Foreign
Military Financing (FMF).
– The Philippines cannot be a useful ally in U.S. pivot to Asia
strategy without adequate military capacity.

www.pipvtr.com

• The Philippines’ support to
U.S. Pivot to Asia strategy
was first officially articulated
on 16 November 2011
during the 60th Anniversary
of the U.S-Philippines
Mutual Defense Treaty
(MDT).

• Signed the Manila
Declaration on U.S.
Philippines Alliance
www.pipvtr.com

• In the Manila Declaration of
2011, the U.S. and the
Philippines:
– reaffirmed their shared
obligations for mutual defense
and
– stressed the need “to maintain
a robust, balanced, and
responsive security partnership
including cooperating to
enhance the defense,
interdiction, and apprehension
capabilities” of the Philippine
military

www.pipvtr.com

• Their determination to continue “their
bilateral cooperation in addressing broader
regional and global challenges, including:
– Maritime security
– Threats to security such as climate change,
nuclear proliferation, terrorism, and transnational
crime.”
• Commitment to continue their “close and
effective cooperation to counter al-Qaida-
linked terrorist groups in the Southern
Philippines”
www.pipvtr.com

• Share common interest in:
– Maintaining freedom of navigation
– Unimpeded lawful commerce, and transit of
people across the seas and
– Subscribe to a rules-based approach in
resolving competing claims in maritime
areas through peaceful, collaborative,
multilateral, and diplomatic processes
within the framework of international law;”

www.pipvtr.com

• Commi to advance their “nations’ mutual
security interests through:
– Continuing a high-level strategic dialogue.”
– They also committed to support “increasing
regional cooperation in the ASEAN Regional
Forum (ARF), the ASEAN Defense Ministers’
Meeting-Plus (ADMM+), the Asia Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC), and the East
Asia Summit (EAS).”

www.pipvtr.com

• In other words, the Manila Declaration of 2011
not only renewed U.S.-Philippines security
alliance but also stressed the need to raise the
level of their alliance to a higher plane.

• The Manila Declaration identified broader goals
in order to make this alliance more relevant and
more mutually beneficial.

www.pipvtr.com

• To implement the Manila Declaration, the two allies even
instituted the holding of Bilateral Strategic Dialogues in order
to provide opportunities for both countries “to consult and
exchange views on a broad range of bilateral, regional, and
global issues” reflecting their “common values and interests”

www.pipvtr.com

• The U.S. and the Philippines, therefore, commit to
stick together as important allies in 21st century.
• The recently concluded 2-plus-2 meeting reiterated
that point.

www.pipvtr.com

• There is no doubt that this alliance plays an important role in
U.S. pivot to Asia.
• Through the MDT of 1951, the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA)
of 1999 and the Mutual Logistic Support Agreement (MLSA) of
2007, American military presence in the Philippines is justified.

www.pipvtr.com

• To indicate continuing American
military presence in the
Philippines, at least 600 American
troops belonging to the Joint
Special Operations Task Force
‐Philippines (JSOTFP) are currently
deployed in Mindanao on
rotational basis.

• Since 2000, American and Filipino
troops have been conducting
combined and joint military
exercises in Philippine territories.

www.pipvtr.com

• 28th Balikatan concluded on 27 April 2012
• A milestone as it involved other American
allies from Australia Japan, and South Korea
as well as partners from Indonesia and
Malaysia.

www.pipvtr.com

• The U.S. is indeed pivoting to Asia. The Philippines plays a
significant part in it.
• For the Philippines, it is not difficult to embrace American pivot
strategy having been a long-standing security ally.
• Armed forces of both countries fought together during
– the Second World War (1945),
– the Korean War (1950-1953),
– the Vietnam War (1964-973),
– the Persian Gulf War (1991), and
– the Global War on Terror (2001-2011)
• They fought common wars through the years to defend
democracy, promote rule of law and pursue free trade.

www.pipvtr.com

• Their shared history and common values in
liberal democracy, rule of law, open society
and free market make the Philippines an
integral part of US pivot strategy towards Asia.

• The bilateral security relationship between the
U.S. and the Philippines has, in fact, “gained
prominence as a key link in the evolving U.S.
foreign policy ‘pivot’ or ‘rebalancing’ toward
Asia.”
www.pipvtr.com

U.S. Alliance with
the Philippines –
weaved together
with Australia,
Japan, South Korea,
Taiwan and Thailand
– makes the U.S.
presence really felt
in Asia and the
Pacific.

www.pipvtr.com

• As an American ally, the Philippines finds U.S.
pivot to Asia strategy as essential to ameliorate
its growing security dilemma with China.

www.pipvtr.com

• U.S. pivot to Asia strategy is also important for
the Philippines in addressing the country’s
internal security threats.

www.pipvtr.com

In other words, the
Philippines expects the
U.S. to help the country
build its national
capacity to meet the
objectives of Philippine
National Security Policy
covering the presidential
term 2011-2016.

www.pipvtr.com

The U.S. is now
rebalancing its
global posture
and presence
after fulfilling its
commitment in
Iraq and
Afghanistan.

www.pipvtr.com

• In its objective to strengthen its presence in the Asia
Pacific by increasing “the institutional weight”,
“power projection”, and “deterrence capacity” of
U.S. armed forces in the region, the Philippines is
willing to serve as a key strategic hub, if not spoke,
for this purpose.

• The 2-plus-2 meeting of both countries’ defense and
foreign affairs officials in Washington DC this week
further operationalized how the Philippine can fit
into the U.S. pivot strategy toward Asia.

www.pipvtr.com

• U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
stressed in an article in Foreign Policy
that “the future of politics will be
decided in Asia, not Afghanistan or
Iraq, and the United States will be
right at the centre of the action”.

• The invigorated U.S.-Philippine alliance
can presently facilitate the U.S to pivot
effectively to Asia as it prepares to
meet this future.

• Operationally, it means increasing U.S.
presence in the Philippines as the U.S.
increases its presence in Asia.

www.pipvtr.com

• Increased American presence in the Philippines can be
established through the following:
– Greater U.S. access to Philippine ports and airfields for re-fueling and
service of warships and planes;
– Stationing of U.S. warships and reconnaissance and other aircraft, on a
rotational basis;
– Increasing the number and frequency of joint military exercises,
training, ship and aircraft visits, and related activities;
– Increasing the number of U.S. troops serving on a temporary basis;
and,
– The Philippine purchase and leasing of U.S. military ships and aircraft

Source: Thomas Lum, The Republic of the Philippines and U.S. Interests
(Washington DC: Congressional Research Service, 5 April 2012), p. 28.

www.pipvtr.com

COAST WATCH SYSTEM (1995 - 2005)

ORIGINAL COAST
ZAMBALES
(1996) WATCH STATIONS

CABRA
(1998)
CAPUL
(1995)
LALUTAYA
(2002)

AYUNGIN
(2000)

MELVILLE
(1995)
ZAMBOANGA
(1995)

TINACA
(2005)

Source: PN

U.S. Presence in the Philippines Can facilitate the implementation of

INTEGRATED PN COAST WATCH SYSTEM
BASCO, BATANES

BURGOS, ILOCOS NORTE
SAN VICENTE, CAGAYAN

LEGEND:
CWC-NORTH, LA UNION

CASIGURAN, AURORA OPERATIONAL
BOLINAO, PANGASINAN
UPCOMING
ZAMBALES
MRIC

CABRA

CAPUL
LAWAK BUSUANGA

LALUTAYA
CUYO
RIZAL REEF
AYUNGIN
CWC-WEST
SURIGAO
TUBBATAHA REEF
SIATON, NEGROS ORIENTAL
MELVILLE
CWC-WM
MANGSEE MAPUN CWC-EM
ZAMBOANGA
PILAS
KALAMANSIG SAN AGUSTIN
TAGANAK MAITUM
PANGUTARAN
TONGKIL MAASIM
TINACA
PANDAMI
BALUT
Source: PN
BONGAO

IMPLICATIONS FOR PEACE
AND DEVELOPMENT IN
MINDANAO

www.pipvtr.com

Why Mindanao?
• Centrally located within Asia & the East ASEAN Growth Area (EAGA).
• Easily accessible by air, land, and sea transport using Roll-On Roll-Off facilities.
• 38 seaports (4 strategic container ports) and 15 major airports (2 international).
interlinked and able to support high volumes.
• 19th largest island in the world (land area exceeds Ireland or Sri Lanka).
• A deep pool of skilled human resources from a population of over 22 million.
• Abundant, available, fertile land perfectly suited for agriculture; 44% of food
consumed in the Philippines is produced here.
• Fair tropical climate with no typhoons.
• Within the rich fishing lanes of the South China and Celebes Seas; accounts for
35% of the country’s fish catch.
• Adequate public utilities and telecom facilities.
• Strong government support through infrastructure development and favorable
policies.
• Emerging location for Tourism and Business Process Outsourcing
www.pipvtr.com

Strategic Industries
Region 9
Processed fish products, Rubber, Seaweeds, Bottled
Sardines, Ceramics, Shellcrafts
Region 10
Pineapple, High-value crops&vegetables, Aqua-
marine, Tourism, Fiber-base (silk, abaca)

Region 11
Banana, Coconut,
Processed fruits,
Processed food
products, Wood
Industry, ARMM
Housewares Seaweeds,
Fish/fish products
Region 12
Rubber, Palm Oil, Pineapple,
Processed Fruits, Fish/Fish Products
Region 13
Banana, Palm Oil, Coffee, Fish/Fish
products, Citronella Oil, Wood &
Wood Products
SOURCE: Department of Trade and Industry

Magnetite
• The Philippines,
particularly Mindanao, is
Gold one of the most
Chromite
mineralized countries in
Magnetite
the world.
Manganese
Chromite
• Third in gold
• Fourth in copper
Magnetite
• Fifth in Nickel
• Sixth in Chromite
Gold
Untapped mineral wealth is
Chromite around US$840 billion
Source: Fernando Sajona, Geologic
Setting and Mineral Potential of the
Chromite Philippines, 2006.

Areas of high Mineral Development
interest in Mindanao
COPPER-GOLD
• Surigao gold district holds Surigao-Agusan
promise for porphyry copper district
mineralization
Mindanao
• Time for rational exploration Central
in Diwalwal-Masara area Zamboanga Cordillera

• Zamboanga is an emerging district

• Discovery of Tampakan
grabs attention for Cotabato
Diwalwal-Masara
• Central Cordillera of Mindanao district
remains unexplored; gold Cotabato
panning activities reported.
Known district
Areas of interest

Source: Fernando Sajona, Geologic Setting and
Mineral Potential of the Philippines, 2006.

Mindanao plays a
vital role in maritime
activities
in Southeast
Asia

Thus, the U.S. is very much
concerned on the status of:
– GPH-MILF Peace Talks
– Implementation of the 1996 Final
Peace Agreement between the GPH
and the MNLF
– GPH-NDF Peace Talks
– Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters
– Abu Sayyaf Group
– Crime-Terrorism-Insurgency Situation
in Mindanao
– Warlordism and Private Armed
Groups in Mindanao
– Over-all state of local governance in
the Southern Philippines

READ: Thomas Lum, The Republic of the Philippines and U.S. Interests.
Washington DC: Congressional Research Service, 5 April 2012.
www.pipvtr.com

CONCLUSION

www.pipvtr.com

• In the Joint Statement signed after the 2+2 meeting, both
countries recognize that “The U.S.-Philippines alliance is stronger
than ever, reflecting the deep and abiding ties linking our two
nations and forged through a history of shared sacrifice and
common purpose.”

www.pipvtr.com

• They also acknowledge that “Americans and Filipinos are
inextricably bound by common values and shared aspirations,
including a commitment to democracy and the rule of law,
building a robust economic partnership, and deepening people-
to-people ties.”

www.pipvtr.com

Their alliance
“remains an
anchor for
peace, stability,
and prosperity
in the Asia-
Pacific region.”

www.pipvtr.com

Will the RP-US
Alliance bring
peace and
development
in Mindanao?

www.pipvtr.com

Thank you
very much

www.pipvtr.com

Increased US Military Presence in the Philippines: Implications for Peace and Development in Mindanao

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