gabriela solon wants probe as US military private contractor transforms Subic shipyard into military base

Women’s partylist group Gabriela is set to file a resolution for the House of Representatives to probe the frequent port calls of US nuclear submarines and warships in Subic Bay, Zambales and look into the contract entered into by US warship builder and developer AMSEC Huntington Ingalls Industries with Subic based shipyard company Hanjin Heavy Industries.

“Our Constitution explicitly bans nuclear weapons. The port calls of these US nuclear submarines being done supposedly for maintenance and repairs in Subic Bay is a direct breach of the Constitution. If AMSEC-HII’s contract with Hanjin Heavy Industries allows this direct attack on our Constitution and our nation’s sovereignty, then it should immediately be cancelled,” said Ilagan.

The Gabriela solon said it is also important that congress look into the process that transpired which led to AMSEC-HII’s partnership with Hanjin Heavy Industries.

“We have strong reason to suspect that this partnership is being used by the US government to effectively circumvent the Constitutional ban on nuclear weapons and reactivate its bases in the Philippines. With or without a military basing treaty, this contract practically transforms the Hanjin shipyard in Subic Bay into a US military base,” said Ilagan.

Article II Section 8, of the Philippine Constitution states that the Philippines, consistent with the national interest, adopts and pursues a policy of freedom from nuclear weapons in its territory. Ilagan also said the frequency of the visits and port calls of US warships and submarines in the Philippines supposedly under the ambit of the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Mutual Defense Treaty have remained unchecked by the Aquino government.

“President Aquino is proving to be a most obedient and subservient US lackey in allowing the US government to proceed with its brazen violations with impunity, placing the sovereignty of our nation and the welfare of our people under attack.”#