Australia May Exploit Drilon Kidnapping to Push for Military Pact in Mindanao

By Renato M. Reyes, Jr.
BAYAN Secretary General

The Australian government has no business intervening in Philippine affairs. Their statements on escalating military offensives in Sulu is unwarranted and can be construed as a self-serving move to allow their troops access to the Philippines.

Australia’s support for escalating military offensives in Mindanao vs. the kidnappers of journalist Ces Drilon and her companions sets the stage for Australian military intervention in the region. We say this because Australia is actively pushing for the ratification of the RP-Australia Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) which would allow them to conduct joint military exercises in the country. The SOFA is being pushed under the aegis of the US-led “war on terror”. It is now pending before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In the guise of fighting terrorists and extremists, Australia wants to get a foothold in Southern Philippines through the SOFA. The presence of the ASG or any bandit group for that matter, is a convenient reason for the Australian government to engage in military intervention, in partnership with the United States, in areas around Mindanao.

The all-out war in Sulu would be an ideal condition for US and Australian military intervention. The two governments are set to take advantage of this condition. The US and Australia will both offer military support for the all-out war in Sulu. This would include sending foreign troops to conduct “military exercises” in Mindanao.

We will not be surprised if Australia invokes the situation in Sulu to push the Philippine Senate to ratify the SOFA. It takes after the lead of the US in this regard.

Having two foreign governments engaged in military operations in Sulu certainly undermines Philippine sovereignty in the region.

The RP-Australia SOVFA, just like the RP-US VFA, accords the Australian military access to our country and its facilities. It would allow Australia to hold military operations even in areas where there are actual enemy combatants, thereby departing from the original purpose of “military exercises.”

We must learn from our experience with the US and not allow Australia military access to Mindanao. We must learn from the bitter lessons of the RP-US VFA and not allow these to be repeated by another foreign power such as Australia.

We are already talking with various Australian groups opposed to Australian military involvement in the Philippines. We vow to oppose the ratification of the SOFA.

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