By You would think this Filipino Senator would have better things to do considering the current state of his country than harassing the US military to determine if one of their servicemembers bought a prostitute or not:
A Philippines senator is blasting his country’s Department of Foreign Affairs for quickly dismissing allegations that U.S. military personnel in Bicol were hiring local prostitutes.
In a Friday news release, Senator Francis Pangilinan demanded an explanation from Visiting Forces Agreement Commission Undersecretary Edilberto Adan.
“How did the commission come to the conclusion that the incident did not take place? Was an investigation undertaken?” Pangilinan asked. “If there was an investigation, who was called? What is the basis of their findings that these U.S. servicemen are innocent?”
Pangilinan, in an April 1 Philippine Daily Inquirer online story, told reporters that he learned from local residents that two groups of eight to 10 women were delivered nightly to the U.S. military members.
The story said Pangilinan planned to draft a Senate resolution “to inquire into the ‘prostitution aspect’?” of Balikatan — the annual U.S.-Philippines military exercise.
On Thursday, the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs released a statement claiming “there is no truth to reports that United States military personnel currently in Bicol … are availing of services of women of ill-repute.”
In the release, Adan said that U.S. troops are accompanied by the Armed Forces of the Philippines at all times and that the Americans are “under strict orders and supervision to limit their movement from the project site to their accommodations.”
U.S. Marine spokesman Capt. Clint Gebke said during a phone interview Monday that all military personnel in the country for the exercise have been given “cultural awareness classes” and understand they are “over here at the Philippines invitation.”
“All servicemembers are held to the high standards that the military expects,” he said. [Stars & Stripes]
These charges by the Senator are especially amusing coming from a country awash in prostitutes and even exporting them to places like Korea.
1:21 pm on April 6th, 2009 1
Prostitution in the Philippines? No way!
Angeles City isn't in the Philippines, is it?
4:26 pm on April 6th, 2009 2
I know it is something small, but it comes up almost every time I come here. Could you check your usage of "then" and "than", please. I really do enjoy this blog and like to visit more than once a day if I am able to.
4:31 pm on April 6th, 2009 3
OMG!
Have to quote Capt. Willard from Apocalypse Now:
"It's like handing out speeding tickets at the Indy 500!"
5:34 pm on April 6th, 2009 4
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7:30 pm on April 6th, 2009 5
You’re correct about the usage.
10:02 pm on April 6th, 2009 6
Has caused me to flinch too every time its done.
10:16 pm on April 6th, 2009 7
Not sure who "she" is in comment @4.
There is a misguided impression about the Philippines which would probably lead some to get in trouble if visiting there.
Filipinos are by and large a rural-conservative people. While areas of Manila and Pampanga (Angeles City and Subic) are set up for foreign tourists night-life, life in the provincial areas are very different. About as different as the GI villes of Korea are from rural areas of Korea.
As far as I know, Bicol is not set up like Angeles City. Of course when GIs come to town, word travels and some ladies will flock to the area, but that doesn't mean the people in the local community will approve.
It's the same type of situation that alienated Kunsan City from Kunsan AB so many years ago.
10:18 pm on April 6th, 2009 8
Correction made folks, just my public school education at work.
8:41 am on April 7th, 2009 9
JoeC is right….same thing happened in Korea, when the ship sailed the ville was empty. All the girls went to Pusan.
8:42 am on April 7th, 2009 10
JoeC is right….same thing happened in Korea, when the ships sailed in, the ville went empty. All the girls went to Pusan.