Imee slams government for secret military deal with U.S.

Imee Marcos, opposition congresswoman, has accused the government of entering into a secret military agreement with the United States, adding it is disadvantageous to the country's sovereignty.

"I learned from a top Filipino military intelligence operative that the joint Philippine-U.S. exercises in Ilocos Norte (northern Luzon) had been cancelled. I was shocked since this was the first time I learned about the plan to hold joint U.S.-Philippine exercises there," said Imee, daughter of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos who ruled from 1965 until his ouster in 1986.

"Such an activity is not illegal and might even be beneficial to both countries, but it is unacceptable that members of Congress were not involved in the planning stage for the proposed joint exercises," she explained.

The country's alleged sell-out to the U.S. "could be gleaned from the presence of U.S. military personnel in many parts of the Philippines now", said the young Marcos.

Sources said joint exercises between the U.S. and the Philippine Armed Forces will be held in Batanes, Pampanga, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Mactan, Cebu, Palawan, Basilan and Zamboanga City. Sources said the presidential palace is considering holding joint military exercises in Jolo, Sulu, turf of the hostage-taking Abu Sayyaf group.

Discussions between U.S. General Joseph Weber and officials of the Armed Forces Southern Command are going on for the proposed war games in Sulu.

Members of non-government organisations and local government officials are participating in the discussions.

Protests from residents forced the government recently to cancel holding the exercises in Sulu.