By Myla H. Torres

Despite opposition from various militant groups as well as several staunch critics from the administration's coalition, the RP-US joint military exercises codenamed Balikatan 02-1 (Shouldering the Load Together) are set to start after the Department of Justice (DOJ) ruled in favor of its constitutionality. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has again expressed an "all-out support" to US President George W. Bush in the light of US' worldwide war against terrorism.

But just how constitutional is the holding of the military exercises in the country?

According to National Security Adviser Roilo Golez, Balikatan will be conducted under the rules and implementations of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which was ratified by the Senate in May 1999. This may well be the reason why President Arroyo has been very bold in her decision to allow the military exercises without further consultation with the groups opposing it.

Last week, Vice President and Foreign Affairs secretary Teofisto Guingona was reportedly angered for being kept in the dark regarding the sensitive issue. Guingona is known for his anti-American stance having voted against the RP-US Military Bases Agreement (MBA) in 1991 and the VFA in 1999.

In a statement made by the President, she pointed out that the deployment of US troops was constitutional and not a matter of policy. This statement however drew out more negative reactions from various fronts. Senator Joker Arroyo, a member of the administration's coalition expressed his apprehension regarding the President's statement.

"The danger in this condescending statement is that the President could change her mind and unleash the US troops (against the Abu Sayyaf) because she believes that she has the constitutional mandate to do so," the Senator said.

Last January 23, the National Security Council (NSC) convened to discuss several points regarding the deployment of 660 US forces in Basilan and Zamboanga. The consensus points included a decision not to allow US troops to engage in combat. But the holding of the military exercises in Basilan, where the rebel group and US-declared Al Qaida militants Abu Sayyaf are based, poses another threat to the peace and order situation in Mindanao. US troops who will be joining Filipino soldiers in patrolling the area may be caught in the line of fire and forced to join into combat.

University of the Philippines professor Randy David argued in his column that Basilan is not just home to the Abu Sayyaf but also for many other "predatory armed groups" who may not be distinguished from ordinary residents"or more important from those who are waging a legitimate war of emancipation." Complications may arise if foreign troops are involved in a local peace and order problem with deep socio-political roots.

"In allowing foreign troops to be deployed in volatile areas in Mindanao under the cover of military exercises, she (President Arroyo) exposes the nation to the dangers of escalating the conflict and to the consequences of privileging a military approach to the complex problems of Muslim Mindanao,"David said.

Frankly, there is enough reason for us to be alarmed with the large number of US troops entering the country. As former Senator Wigberto Tañada pointed out, the failure of our 7,000 troops from the Armed Forces to eradicate less than a hundred hardcore Abu Sayyaf members may not be due to our soldiers' lack of training or inadequate equipment. It may have more to do with the accusations of conspiracies between the local officials, the military and the Abu Sayyaf.

The Arroyo government, however, chose to ask for assistance from the US to put an end to this domestic crisis. And that leaves us with the question: Why are we allowing it?