Ang paglisan ni US President Barack Obama sa bansa nitong Martes lulan ng Air Force One sa AGES Aviation Center sa Pasay City. (PHOTOVILLE International)
MANILA, Philippines – Sa pagtatapos ng dalawang araw na state visit ni US President Barack Obama sa Pilipinas, muli itong nangako ng suporta at tulong sa Pilipinas lalo na sa mga magtatangkang umagaw sa mga teritoryo nito.
“Our commitment to defend the Philippines is ironclad…The United States will keep that commitment because allies never stand alone.”
Sinabi ni Obama na hindi sila bibitaw sa halos animnapung taon nang mutual defense treaty ng Amerika at Pilipinas.
“This treaty means our two nations pledge, and I’m quoting, our ‘common determination to defend themselves against external armed attack, so that no potential aggressor could be under the illusion that either of them stands alone.’”
Gayunman, naniniwala ang itinuturing na pinakamakapangyarihang leader sa mundo na hindi kailangan ng dahas sa pagresolba sa territorial dispute.
Paliwanag nito, “Deepening our alliance is part of our broader vision for the Asia-Pacific. We believe that nations and peoples have the right to live in security and peace, and to have their sovereignty and territorial integrity respected. We believe that international law must be upheld, that freedom of navigation must be preserved, and commerce must not be impeded, and we believe disputes must be resolved peacefully and not by intimidation or force.”
Nangako rin ito na lalo pang paiigtingin ang pagpapalakas sa kakayahan ng mga sundalong Pilipino sa ilalim ng Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) na nilagdaan kahapon.
“We’ll train and exercise together more…to bring our militaries even closer and to support to strengthen your Armed forces,” pahayag pa ni Obama.
Pagkatapos ng kanyang speech, nagtungo na si Obama sa American cemetery sa loob pa rin ng Fort Bonifacio, Taguig kung saan nag-alay ng bulaklak para sa mga namatay na Amerikanong sundalo na nakipaglaban noong World War 2.
Tinatayang nasa 17-libong American soldier ang nakahimlay dito na sinasabing pinakamalaking mass grave ngUS troops noong ikalawang digmaang pandaigdig. (Pong Mercado / Ruth Navales, UNTV News)