President Duterte has warned the United States military against building permanent facilities to house weapons in the country, threatening anew to cancel a defense pact with the long-time strategic ally.
The President said the United States would place the country in danger with its plans to build a depot and unload arms in the country, particularly in Palawan, Cagayan de Oro and Pampanga.
“I’m serving notice to the Armed Forces of the United States – Do not do it. I will not allow it,” he said in a press conference after a meeting with military and police officials at the Palace.
Duterte said a provision in the Philippine-US visiting forces agreement states that “there shall be no permanent facilities” in the country.
“A depot by any other name is a depot. It’s a permanent structure to house arms… It’s not allowed by the treaty,” he said, adding he was not sure if the weapons included nuclear powered ones.
If the US presses ahead with the permanent miltiary structure in the country, Duterte cautioned: “You that and I will consider a review and maybe ultimately abrogate since it is an executive order, abrogate the treaty altogether.”
Duterte was referring to the agreement that allow the rotating deployment of US troops and equipment to the Philippines. The visiting forces agreement, on the other hand, governs the conduct of the troops while staying in the country.
In his remarks, the President asked the United States not to drag the Philippines in a war with China over the territorial dispute in the South China Sea.
He said the United States was placing the country in danger with its planned depot that will turned into a “supply line.”
He noted that the US was “egging on” the Philippines to force the arbitration ruling that upheld the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea despite China’s claims.
He claimed that Chinese missiles are “pointed at American expeditions” here. If war is declared, Duterte said the first to be hit would be Cagayan, Palawan and nearby places.
Duterte maintained that he prefers to talk instead of wage war in resolving the territorial dispute. “I would not allow my people to needlessly die. At the end of the day, I will be the worst president if i do that,” he added.
(GENALYN D. KABILING)