Presidential Aspirants Urged to Oppose US Troops' Stay

Gabriela Representatives Liza Maza and Luzviminda Ilagan said the House committees on Foreign Affairs and Defense should investigate the planned stay of US troops.

In House Resolution No. 1335 filed Monday, the militant lawmakers said Gates' announcement only confirms that US military forces are "interfering in the internal affairs of the country in violation of our sovereignty and the Philippine Constitution."

"Such [a] move allowed by the Philippine government may constitute a case of treason against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo," said the two women lawmakers.

Maza and Ilagan said "The continuing stay in the country of the US forces on the rationale of counter-terrorism has apparently not stopped the armed conflicts in Mindanao and other parts of the country."