Manila: A left-wing political group accused Philippine President Benigno Aquino of encouraging the continued presence of US troops in the country after he said that he is agreeable to more military exercises and port calls by American forces.
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance), said that when Aquino declared that he favours "more of the same" in terms of military exercises between Philippine and US troops", the president was virtually opening the country's doors to large scale US troop presence.
Not permanent
In a recent interview by the AFP, Aquino said that the Philippines would welcome the entry of more US troops in the country provided that the stationing of troops would be on a "rotational" and not on a "permanent" basis.
