Militants blast US military plan
- ucanews.com reporter, Manila
- Philippines
- March 8, 2012
Angry fishermen today accused the United States government of trying to turn Palawan island into a military outpost similar to Japan’s Okinawa.
"It is interesting to note that the next staging of [joint US-Philippines military] exercises is chiefly focused in Palawan province,” said Salvador France, head of the Pamalakaya fishermen’s group.
He said the US is turning the eastern island province into a de facto naval base for US troops currently stationed in Okinawa.
He claimed that the April 16-27 joint military exercises are designed as a "preparatory stage" for the establishment of mini-naval bases not only in Palawan, but in nearby provinces in Luzon.
"It is interesting to note that the next staging of [joint US-Philippines military] exercises is chiefly focused in Palawan province,” said Salvador France, head of the Pamalakaya fishermen’s group.
He said the US is turning the eastern island province into a de facto naval base for US troops currently stationed in Okinawa.
He claimed that the April 16-27 joint military exercises are designed as a "preparatory stage" for the establishment of mini-naval bases not only in Palawan, but in nearby provinces in Luzon.
