Philippines, US start formal talks on increased rotational presence

The Philippine and the U.S. negotiators began on Wednesday closed-door negotiations on a new framework agreement on increased rotational presence (IRP) of American troops in the Philippines. Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Carlos Sorreta, head of the Philippine panel, described the negotiation as a "milestone in the long-standing strategic partnership between the Philippines and the United States." He assured local people in a opening statement that the Philippine government "is committed to defending and protecting the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity." Philippine military officials said earlier that there would be four rounds of negotiations on the matter. Sorreta said details of each round of talks will be revealed to the public through media in the spirit of transparency. Other members of the Philippine negotiating panel are Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino, Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III and Defense Assistant Secretary Raymund Quilop. The U.S. negotiating panel was led by Eric John, U.S. Department of State Ambassador and Senior Advisor for Security Negotiations and Agreements of Political-Military Affairs, who was also one of the U.S. main negotiators during the crafting of the Visiting Forces Agreement.