European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 30, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Agazine a lit Philo a strike by filipino base workers in March kept . Military personnel holed up in their quarters 13 Days. Armed forces it . Bases in Philippines a political Issue by Joel Friedman United press International if Lorenzo Tanada had his Way Uncle Sam would be packing up american military bases an leaving the Philippines  continued presence of american bases Inthis country creates a Clear and present danger to our National survival and infringes on our Independence says the 86-year-old Granddaddy of filipino nationalists. Tanada s booming and influential voice Drew vigorous approval at a recent Public hearing of a commission named by president Corazon Aquino to draft a Constitution that will Chart the course of philippine democracy. A key committee of the constitutional commission condom agreed with Tanada voting 6 to 2 to adopt a Resolution that its authors said would Force the americans out in 1991. The Resolution however must still be approved in a vote of the full 48-member commission where political observers believe it stands Only a slim Chance of being adopted. It must also survive a referendum in which the entire charter will be placed before the filipino people a majority of whom support the american presence according to Independent surveys. Still pro american businessmen have become sufficiently concerned to voice their fears to Aquino at stake is the Fate of the largest american military facilities outside the United states Clark a a base the Home of the 13th air Force and Subic Bay naval base the major logistics and repair Center Lor the 7th Fleeta  philippine agreement covering the use of the strategic air naval and communications facilities expires in 1991, after which either Side can abrogate the agreement with one year s notice. Since assuming Power in the people powered revolt that toppled Ferdinand Marcos in february Aquino has repeatedly said she will respect the agreement until 1991 and keep her options open thereafter. Her defense minister Juan Ponce Enrile. Is More outspoken in his support of the . Military presence. It would not be in the interest of the nation at this time or within this decade or much longer than that to create a vacuum in this part of the world by removing the presence of american military facilities in our area unless the soviets get out of the Region he has said. The americans agree wholeheartedly. . Undersecretary of state Michael Armacost in a televised interview said the arrangements covering Clark and Subic Are not Only supportive of philippine Security interests. But they Are also a contribution to the balance of Power in Southeast Asia and indeed Asia in  opponents of the bases however see them not As a counterbalance to soviet Power but As a target for soviet attack. Should War be declared Between Russia and the United states the first thing that Russia will do is liquidate the american bases because of their important role in the defense of american Security Tanada told the condom hearing. The condom committee Resolution also Calls for declaring the Philippines a nuclear free zone a proposal that has widespread popular support. That anti nuclear sentiment said University of Tho Philippines professor Roland Simbulan is one of the strongest Points that the anti bases mov Orient has " although the United Stales refuses to confirm or saturday August 30, 1986 deny the presence of nuclear weapons at its facilities filipino base watchers claim to have a wealth of circumstantial evidence pointing toward their presence at the bases. Nationalists argue that when the United slates made the original Deal for the bases after granting the Philippines Independence in 1947, it took advantage of a weak nation devastated by world War ii. It was negotiated while we were a colonial people said condom member Edmundo Garcia. We have never had the Chance to stand up As equal partners on the basis of strength to negotiate this for our  even supporters of the bases acknowledge the Philippines is getting a poor Deal pointing out that other . Allies with bases Are getting considerably More than the $900 million Over five years promised to Manila. Still the bases provide some 42,000 jobs making them the second largest employer after the National government and pump millions of dollars into the local economies. A strike by disgruntled filipino base workers that kept . Servic members holed up in their Barracks for 13 Days in March Cost townspeople More than $5 million and led taxi Drivers vendors and bar girls to attack the picketers. Indeed for Many involved with the bases Issue the Money outweighs the lofty rhetoric about sovereignty and military strategy. Strapped with a $26.2 billion foreign debt and an Economy that is unlikely to experience any growth in 1986, the government is Loath to give up any source of Aid. An anti bases provision in the Constitution would not Only limit ils options opponents of the condom Resolution say. But take away the most important source of leverage in its relations with the United states. The stars and stripes Page 13