Biazon: US carrier not for rescue, recovery operations (??!!??)

[Galactus]

This is how Sec. 8, Art. II of the 1987 Constitution reads:

"Section 8. The Philippines, consistent with the national interest, adopts and pursues a policy of freedom from nuclear weapons in its territory."

Dunno about other lawyers here but it certainly a stretch to say that allowing an American aircraft carrier to come here on a mission of mercy can be interpreted as violating this provision in any way. Put it another way, allowing the entry of that ship for the single purpose of conducting rescue operations doesn't mean you're stockpiling, storing or even transporting nuclear weapons.

I have to hand it to our politicians. What we lack in lifesaving equipment and rescue capability we more than make up for in terms of chutzpah and bluster when other nations try to help. :nono:

Bro, the issue isn't just the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, but the Carrier Strike Group (CSG). A carrier doesn't travel alone, its always acompanied by escorts (destroyers, cruisers and frigates, which may or may not carry nuclear-tipped weapons). Sen. Biazon is merely splitting hairs by raising the issue, and it may have raised hackles among constitutional experts and nationalist groups. I guess they're afraid the situation will set a precedent.

IMO, the carrier group is simply extending a helping hand, and judging from our own navy's inability (or incompetence), welcome na welcome yung tulong nila.

Meanwhile, nandun pa rin sa US si Pandak, and I bet my month's salary, dederecho sya sa Las Vegas to give moral support to Pacman. Baka next month na siya umuwi.

[CVT]

These carriers are big communities,- their helicopters are very much suitable for (sea) rescue and relief operations. IMO, they should be allowed to help us, since we have not demonstrated our capability to do the same to our countrymen.

To hell with sovereignty and constitution in these trying(emergency) situations,- our countrymen need help and are dying and we could only stare at them, ourselves, helpless.

6303:fetch:

[XTO]

Kargado or not ng nuclear warheads which i’m 100% sure ay oo, hindi ito ang nakakabahalang issue dito. everytime may bumibisita or lumalapit na nuclear powered or even conventional powered vessels ng kano, they can easily drop tons of of nuclear waste (in sealed canisters) na ang mahalaga sa kanila ay malayo sa US. kaya nakaka gulat pag bumibisita sila, akala ng marami ay hulog ng langit. well they always wanted to be the winner in the end...wise ang mga yan - di mo maiisahan.

do you still remember what they left in subic and clark nung nagsilayas sila? Diba ang daming nakitang mga naka baong sealed drums? What more kung sa ilalim ng dagat yan ihulog. a certain radioactive elements gaya ng plutonium-239 in “spent” fuel will remain hazardous to humans and other living beings for hundreds of thousands of years once mag leak.

and if that time comes, hindi mo na alam kung sino sisisihin mo. Baket ako / kami nagkasakit ng ganito?

[Isuzoom]

WE NEED HELP!!! nuclear or non-nuclear man iyan....Stop muna ang kabobohan or anong tawag sa mga ulol na polintiko na mga iyan....WE NEED HELP muna!!!!

[badsekktor]

i dont think that these groups would carry nuclear trash.... maybe nuclear warheads but i dont think that they would drop them intentionally...

We need help and they are offering us help. we should be thankful that somebody wants to lend a a helping hand.

[Monseratto]

US aircraft carrier won't enter RP territory

A Malacañang official on Friday clarified that the nuclear-powered USS Ronald Reagan will not enter Philippine territory.

Undersecretary Anthony Golez, presidential deputy spokesman, said the aircraft carrier strike group is not anchored in Philippine waters. He said the carrier is merely sending helicopters to isolated villages and towns in typhoon-hit provinces for rescue and relief operations.

"This carrier is not anchored in the country's territory. It is going around outside our territory and sends aircrafts or choppers and small craft to help in the relief operations," Golez told ABS-CBN's morning show, "Umagang Kay Ganda."

He said the United States government has made it clear with President Arroyo that it will not enter the Philippine territory. Mrs. Arroyo and officials of the aircraft carrier are aware of the Philippine Constitution's prohibition against nuclear weapons, he added.

"We would like to stress that [only] the humanitarian focus of this aide was accepted by the President," Golez said.

The USS Ronald Reagan is a US aircraft carrier strike group, which consists of a carrier, a cruiser, three destroyers and a frigate.

It was directed by US President George W. Bush to help the Philippine government in relief operations for the typhoon-hit areas in the country.

Golez said the aircraft carrier will stay near the Philippine territory "as long as it is needed." He said US troops from the aircraft carrier will also get involved in rehabilitation efforts, including renovation and construction of houses, bridges and roads destroyed by typhoon Frank.

The presidential spokesman also clarified that the aircraft carrier will not be directly involved in the search and retrieval operations for the ill-fated M/V Princess of the Stars of the Sulpicio Lines.

A separate US vessel, a salvage ship, will join Philippine authorities in the retrieval operations, Golez added.

Senators Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Rodolfo Biazon earlier expressed reservations about the aircraft carrier's arrival in the Philippines, particularly the possible entry of nuclear weapons in the country's territory.

Pimentel said he welcomes the arrival of the aircraft carrier as long as it will not meddle with the government's internal affairs, including the fight against the Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf bandit group.

He admitted, however, that the Philippines cannot do anything if the US decides to meddle with the government's terrorism problem. "Alangan namang giyerahin natin sila. In other words, we are in a bind. Wag lang sila papasok dito para maki-giyera," he said

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage...StoryId=123221

[Altis6453]

To Senators Biazon and Pimentel, mag-pa Senate Investigation na lang kayo at kumbidahin nyo si Ronald Reagan, este...USS Ronald Reagan. Hehe! I swear, they're like the R.P.'s version of Dumb and Dumber.

[redorange]

I do. But, I haven't been that far out of it either. Shades of anything synonymous with Vietnam are still very much talked about. There's already Iraq and Afghanistan. I doubt the US public will tolerate any more places to get embroiled in.

I'm skeptical of US forces taking part in any fighting in the Philippines because 1. Any news of dead/wounded/captured Americans would've spread like wildfire in the Pinoy grapevine. 2. The Abu Sayyaf would've been spreading the word to sow discord among the public both in the Philippines and in the US. They certainly would bring out the band and parade if they got hold of any American servicemen if only for propaganda purposes. US forces venturing out and engaging in firefights with terrorist elements increases the risks of capture/casualties. I'm sure no one is underestimating the Muslim elements down there. They've been fighters for centuries and aren't to be taken lightly.

I've also seen my share of diplomatic protocol. So, the nukes thing is quite a big deal. I'm sure the USN ships would comply although to what degree no one knows. I know from the past with other countries, it boiled down to technicalities which from my view were almost laughable but were within the rules from a lawyer's standpoint

They don't go on missions all the time but they do go on missions with the military under so called "training". Remember when the Burnham's were held hostage the US were supposedly training at the time, yet the training area happened to be around the same location of the hostage. IIRC something that was never mentioned was the involvement of US Special Ops during their rescue.


As far as the nuke issue with the USS Reagan just take the help being offered, because in reality the families of the victims could careless of who helps them at this point. At the very least the US is offering to help which is better than what the President of the Republic is doing enjoying her vacation in the US while the people who placed her in power suffer. I guess it's not important now since she can't get re-elected.

[Jun aka Pekto]

I'm not going to pass judgement on this Biazon guy. He won brownie points (with me) by drawing attention to that nuclear weapon clause. It didn't do any harm. I doubt it delayed relief operations. It did upheld the Philippine Constitution and the US obviously intends to comply by keeping the USS Reagan outside Philippine waters. That showed his actions had merit.

The rest of his assertions merely proved he's not a walking encyclopedia. I'll give him that. No one's perfect. If he wants to showboat, oh well. You guys can deal with that part.

[Isuzoom]

in case of emergency....pipili ka pa ba ng anong klaseng rescue or ambulance?...yes we a have a law...but f*ck the law, the Ronald Reagan group was in south china sea when the typhoon frank stuck the visayas region...HK port after the crew RnR. They are the nearest rescuers..ano pa gusto ng mga gagong politko? Cruise ship ng Star cruises or non-nuclear powered ships from okinawa and san diego?
Friend ko sa Iloilo washed out lahat ng gamit nila..everything they owned basa lahat...1 week after still wala pang electricity and water galing sa gripo, some roads are still unpassable no cellphone signal.... Tulong from the government? Bullsh*t!!

Fu*k you Biazon!, Fu*k you Pimentel! dala na pati mga gagong politiko na walang ginagawa....1 week na! Go to real problem di sa mga nuclear bullsh*t issue!!!...