Re: VFA - accused US serviceman paedophile in Aus

For more on the so-called SOFA between the RP and Oz, see

http://www.malaya.com.ph/jun01/news5.htm
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/IF13Ae03.html
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=68813
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/june/02/yehey/opinion/20070602opi1.html
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/05/30/australia.philippines.reut/index.html
http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/NelsonMintpl.cfm?CurrentId=6724

and other such articles. The CNN article in particular went to a key
point which most of the other stories seem to have either missed or
ignored:

Quoting CNN: "The Philippines' constitution bars foreign troops on its
soil unless their presence is covered by a treaty."

For the 1987 RP constitution, see:
http://www.chanrobles.com/philsupremelaw2.html

Article XVIII, Section 25 reads: "After the expiration in 1991 of the
Agreement between the Republic of the Philippines and the United
States of America concerning military bases, foreign military bases,
troops, or facilities shall not be allowed in the Philippines except
under a treaty duly concurred in by the Senate and, when the Congress
so requires, ratified by a majority of the votes cast by the people in
a national referendum held for that purpose, and recognized as a
treaty by the other contracting State."

For some background:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Status_of_Forces_Agreement
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visiting_Forces_Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visiting_Forces_Agreement
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RP-US_Visiting_Forces_Agreement
Mutual Defense Treaty (US-Philippines)

.