Manila: A local fisherfolk group aired concern that Palawan will be turned into another "Okinawa" in the face of perceived US plans to bolster its presence in the Western Philippine islands.

The left-wing Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya or the National Fisherfolk Movement) said plans by the US to develop Palawan into a supply base for its forces in the Western Philippine Sea could bring misery to the island instead of benefits.

Reports said that the United States is preparing bolster its presence in the strategically important island west of the country close of natural gas and oil fields with the establishment of supply and logistic facilities for US forces operating in the area.

"The US government wants its soldiers to familiarize with the terrain of the island province and convince Palawan folks that US soldiers are kind, generous and they are their knights in shining armour in a vain attempt to turn the island as the new Okinawa naval base in the Southeast," said Salvador France, Pamalakaya national vice chair.

Okinawa in Japan is an important US military outpost in the Pacific. It is home to the US Seventh Fleet and houses at any given period some, 35,000 American soldiers, some 17,000 of whom are Marines.

Recently, the US Embassy and the Philippine military announced that US, Philippines as well as forces of several other countries, are due to conduct military exercises in Palawan and other parts of the country as part of the annual "Balikatan" (Shoulder-to-Shoulder) drills. The training operation will take place on April 6 to 12.

 

Rape cases

 

The continued presence of US Navy and US marine personnel from Okinawa had been a subject of controversy due to alleged abuse committed by US military personnel.

The latest among the series of rape cases was the rape of a 14 year-old girl, near the base, on February 2008. Several cases of abuse have been recorded involving US personnel since the 1990s.

Large-scale presence of foreign forces had been banned by the Philippines since 1992 with the abrogation of the US Military Bases Agreement by the government, but a certain provision in the Visiting Forces Agreement between the two countries allows the US to station a limited number of personnel in the country on rotation basis as well as maintain logistical bases.

Aside from the building of the virtual naval base there, France opined that the US government wants something else, the oil that can be extracted off the coast of Palawan.

"Palawan is rich in oil and gas deposits. It has nice beaches for rest and recreation of tired US soldiers. It is near the Spratlys and US can always check China's aggressive campaign claim over Spratlys and maintain its military interest in the Asian region. For Washington, these advantages are non-negotiable; and the Philippines-US joint military exercises in Palawan is primed in this premise," he said.