Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

ACCORDING to the Dept. of Foreign Affairs, Pres. Barack Obama has asked US Congress to remove the conditions on the $2-million military aid alloted for the Philippines in the proposed US appropriations act for next year.

Senator Appropriations Committee Chairman Sen. Daniel Inouye has also "committed to increase defense and security assistance for the Philippines," as affirmed by DFA Alberto Romulo and previously stated by Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.

The decision was made to give recognition to RP’s efforts in addressing human rights issues and US Congress has even pushed for an increase in military assistance to the Philippines for next year, proposing a whopping $667 million inclusive of defense, security and economic assistance, poverty alleviation under the Millennium Challenge Account and veterans’ benefits.

The initial recommendation made by Pres. Obama was $15 million in military aid, but US Congress has doubled the amount to $30 million.

Resolution 3081 which emanated from the US House of Representatives and has been approved by US Congress appropriates military assistance to the Philippines "not to exceed $30 million, $2 million of which may not be obligated until the Secretary of State reports in writing to the committees on appropriations that the Philippines has complied with three conditions."

"In 2008, following a Senate hearing on the human rights situation in the Philippines, the US Congress voted to place a condition on the release of the full amount of military aid to the Philippines," Philstar.com reported.

"Bayan Muna Rep. Colmenares said the conditions include the implementation of the recommendations of United Nations rapporteur Philip Alston, the investigation and prosecution of military officials accused of human rights violations, and that violence and intimidation of legal organizations should not form part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ policy," the report further elaborated.

According to Colmenares, "the failure of the Arroyo administration to comply with the conditions imposed this year has resulted in the scrapping of the $2 million conditional military aid but Defense Secretary Teodoro said that the Philippines has received the full amount.