Manila Philippines — Some groups have strongly condemned the use of the MQ-94 Reaper Drone donated by the United States to the Philippines.
The unmanned aerial vehicles have begun operating at Basa Air Base as part of the support of the United States Indo-Pacific Command upon the request of the Armed Force of the Philippines (AFP).
The P1NAS (Pilipinong Nagkakaisa para sa Soberanya) denounced the deployment of US of the so-called ‘rotational’ operation as just the smokescreen of its permanent use.
It is said that it is possible to make such a drone armed that can be loaded with precision-guided missiles used by the US against countries in the Middle East.
“The Reaper drones may be armed with precision-guided missiles and bombs, and were extensively used by the US in its wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen,” said P1NAS spokesperson Antonio Tinio.
Tinio said it is also possible for American soldiers to strengthen their military build-up by sending of drones to maintain its hegemony against China.
This is part of the ongoing US military build-up in the Philippines and the region as it gears up for war with China to maintain its hegemony,” explained Tinio.
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As for Bayan Muna Executive Vice President Carlos Isagani Zarate, the operation of the US drone is a clear violation of the sovereignty and integrity of the Philippines.
“The deployment of US Reaper drones in the Philippines is a blatant violation of our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Zarate said in a statement.
He also said that the sending of drones by the US is a big threat to national security, which is why the former lawmaker is calling to administration of President Bongbong Marcos to withdraw the request for drones from the US.
“The presence of these drones is a threat not only to our national security but also to the safety and well-being of our people. We must stand up against foreign intervention and assert our right to self-determination,” said the former lawmaker.
The US supply of the Reaper Drone is anchored in the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between Washington and Manila.