Inquiry into trilateral treaty urged

Four senators called for an inquiry into the contents and implications of a trilateral anti-terror agreement signed by the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur last week.

The agreement imposes on the Philippine government certain obligations that will require congressional action under the Constitution, said Senator Blas Ople, chairman of the foreign relations committee, one of the four senators who filed the resolution.

"National policy abhors secret agreements and requires the exercise of prudence, responsibility, transparency and accountability in the exercise of foreign policy pertaining to the security of the Philippines," said the resolution, signed also by Senators Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Rodolfo Biazon, chairman and vice chairman, respectively of the defence and security committee; and Majority Leader Loren Legarda.

The inquiry was called since members of the Senate have raised concerns on several occasions over the possible entanglement of the Philippines in hostilities that could erupt among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), said Ople.

The anti-terror agreement has "revived the old ghosts" of Maphilindo, a concept aimed at unifying Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia in the Southeast Asian region, said Ople.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo witnessed the signing of the treaty during a recent visit to Kuala Lumpur, saying: "The agreement is a significant contribution to the global campaign to fight terrorism."

Thailand, another member of Asean, has expressed willingness to join the agreement.

The Agreement on Information Exchange and Establishment of Communication Procedures establishes the framework by which the three nations will prevent the use by anyone of their land-air-sea territories for the purpose of committing or furthering such criminal activities as terrorism, money laundering, smuggling, piracy, hijacking, intrusion, illegal entry, drug trafficking, theft of marine resources, marine pollution and the illicit trafficking of arms.