[asia-apec 728] Bayan warns of IMF-WB role in pushing for VFA

[GABRIELA]

From: BAYAN at iname.com

News Release

25 September 1998


<excerpt><center>BAYAN warns of IMF-WB role in pushing for VFA

</center>

THE Bagong Alyansang Makabayan today accused Pres. Joseph Estrada of

rumor-mongering and using scare tactics in its campaign to have the

Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) ratified by the Senate next month.


Bayan said the President was sounding false alarms again by linking  
the

approval of the VFA to the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) and 
World

Bank's (WB) release of loans to the Philippines. 


Bayan made the accusation after the media quoted Cagayan de Oro Mayor
Vicente

Emano as saying that the Senate ratification of the VFA is tied up with
the

release of IMF and WB funds. He concluded this after a meeting with

President Joseph Estrada who was in Cagayan de Oro recently to launch a

pro-VFA campaign drive among Mindanao mayors and governors.


"The President is using the very same arguments used by the pro-bases
camp

in 1991. Doesn't he have any originality?" chided BAYAN and KMP
Chairperson Rafael

Mariano. He warned however that if the presidential rumors were true,
"then

this is outright economic blackmail which is utterly condemnable." 


He said this was a litmus test for the Senate. "The Senate should not
give

in to such scare and pressure tactics if it is really committed to the

country's sovereignty and security. In the first place, IMF-WB

conditionalities can never justify the ratification of a one-sided  and

onerous treaty such as the VFA," he said.


Mariano said BAYAN will launch a series of rallies starting October 1,
the

day the Estrada administration plans to submit the VFA to the Senate 
for

discussion and ratification. ####


	 ---------------------------------------------------------

	 B A Y A N

	 Bagong Alyansang Makabayan or New Patriotic Alliance

	 No. 23 Maamo Street, Sikatuna Village

	 Quezon City, PHILIPPINES							      	

	 Telephone: (63-2) 435-9151       Telefax: (63-2) 922-5211

	 Email:   <<bayan at iname.com>

	 Bayan webpage URL:                                 

	 http://www.bigfoot.com/~bayan-phils 	      	

	 -----------------------------------------------------------


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