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Highlights of the VFA and VFA 2 By IBON special release (People's Policy and Advocacy Study)
The VFA clearly shows that the US wants special and extraordinary treatment as regards the treatment of US military personnel entering the country. Many quesitonable provisions nay be gleaned from the agreement.
Among these are the duty-free entry of US military supplies and equipment, passport and visa exemption for American military personnel, as well as toll-free entry of US Armed Forces vehicles, vessels and aircraft.
Criminal jurisdiction of American military offenders is also one-sided, to the point where a commanding officer's certification that an offense was committed in the line of duty already constitutes "sufficient proof of performance of official duty."
It even wants the Philippine government to recognize an American driver's license. The US even wants its vehicles to go unregistered to the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
Vehicles, vessels and aircraft of the US armed forces will also not subjected to payment of landing or port fees, navigation or overflight charges, or tolls or other use charges, including light and harbor dues.
The same is true for US goverment equipment materials and supplies which the Clinton administration wants exempted from duties, taxes and other similar charges.
US armed forces personnel entering the Philippines may also bring "reasonable" quantities of personal proeprty which will also be free of all government-imposed charges. Even the exportation of such property, as well as those acquired in the Philippines, will also not be subject to the payment of all fess.
On the other hand, the government argues that the country got a "fair deal" from VFA 2, since almost all the privileges like extending to visiting US troops are also accorded to Filipino troops sent to (or sent through) the US.
According to Foreign Assistant Sceretary Clemente Montesa, all privileges accorded to Filipino personnel like easy entry to the US and certain tax privileges will also be granted to their dependents. The Philippine government was also able to ask the US to include the right to bail as one of the procedural guarantees to be accorded to Filipino soldiers charged with a crime commited there. Such a provision, according to the DFA, cannot be found in the Israeli reciprocal aggreement. (PDI, 9 Oct 98)
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