NOT READY FOR US TROOPS

A V-22 Osprey of the U.S. Marines hovers above an Indonesian C-130 plane at the Mactan Benito Ebuean Air Base during a humanitarian mission in 2013. The government is considering the air base among the military sites that U.S. troops will be allowed to use under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. (CDN FILE PHOTO)

Questions raised on capability of 2 military bases in Cebu to host US forces
Concerns on the capability of two military camps in Cebu to host American troops under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) have been raised.

While the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base can accommodate large US military aircraft, sources said the Naval Base Rafael Ramos (NBRR) may not be able to host the American Navy ships.

This, as militant groups warned of protest actions against the government plan to host US forces in the two military bases on Mactan Island.

Jaime Paglinawan, chairman of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) in Central Visayas, warned that the presence of US forces here could lead to a rise in cases of abuse against women and transgenders.

He also warned that the prostitution problem would worsen, as was the case in 1991 when the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) was still in effect.

“Dili ni mahimo dinhi sa Cebu kung madayon ni ang maong plano (It can’t happen here in Cebu should this plan push through),” Paglinawan said, referring to the killing of transgender Jennifer Laude by US Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton.

The Mactan Air Base and Naval Base are among eight Philippine military sites that are being eyed for the use of US troops under EDCA.

TOO SMALL

A Philippine Navy officer said the port at the Naval Base Rafael Ramos in Barangay Canjulao, Lapu-Lapu City is too small for the huge ships of the US Navy.

It was not even able to accommodate BRP Gregorio del Pilar, a frigate, which had to dock at the Cebu International Port (CIP) when it visited Cebu last year. “Kung sa depth ng tubig, malalim naman. Kaso masikip pa talaga siya sa ngayon (The channel is deep enough for big vessels. But as of now, the place is too small),” the source said.

He said only vessels as big as a landing craft, which can  carry only up to 2,280 tons of cargo, can dock at their wharf.

He said, though, that there was a plan to develop the naval port because the Philippine Navy wanted to transfer its fleet to Mactan due to its strategic location.

The source also cited a plan to reclaim foreshore land to accommodate new offices. But these plans have yet to be approved, he added.

The Naval Base, however, is big enough to serve as a holding area for military exercises.

“Pwede lang siyang maging holding area and then if there will be military exercises, we have to look for other places in Cebu to do that,” he added.

AIR BASE

The Mactan Air Base, on the other hand, has enough space for the US air fleet.

A source at the Philippine Air Force 2nd Division said the current runway and hangar of the Mactan Air Base can accommodate a Boeing C-17 aircraft as well as the military C-130 plane.

Based on the Philippine Air Force official website, the air base in Mactan shares with the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) a 10,000-foot runway.

The air base served as an emergency landing strip for the Strategic Air Command bombers in 1956 built by the US Air Force.

It was used as an outpost until the Vietnam War when it served as an air transit point for American troops and supplies bound for the warzone.

The air base, however, has had to give up part of its property to pave the way for the construction of a second passenger terminal building for MCIA. The structures that had to be demolished to clear the area, including the base operations building, are being replicated in another part of the base.

OTHER BASES

Aside from the Mactan air and naval bases, six other military sites are being considered for the use of American troops under EDCA.

These are Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Clark Air Base in Pampanga, Lumba Air Field in Cagayan De Oro, Antonio Bautista Air Base in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, a naval base in Palawan, and Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.

Under EDCA, American troops may build facilities to store equipment and supplies in these bases.

Paglinawan of Bayan warned of massive protest actions against the plan.

He pointed out that prostitution worsened in 1991, when American soldiers visited Cebu under VFA. The last time American soldiers were involved in a controversy in Cebu was in 2000, when taxi driver Marcelo Batestil was mauled by three US Marines for alleged overcharging.

Leo Villarino, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) 7 special investigator, recalled that the case was amicably settled.

“That complaint was assisted by lawyer Gerry Carillo, who was not a Cebu City councilor yet,” he said.

Charges of assault and fraud were filed against the American soldiers, but the case was dismissed by Judge Rosabella Tormis for lack of other witnesses.