US Pinoys call on Aquino to ask Obama for TPS approval and drone technology

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TED LAGUATAN
(650) 504-7350

US Pinoys call on Aquino to ask Obama for TPS approval and drone technology

New York City Hall press conference for TPS for the Philippines. (File Photo: by Elton Lugay)

In anticipation of President Barrack Obama’s visit to the Philippines, the US Pinoys for Good Governance (USP4GG) group called on President Benigno S. Aquino III to persuade Obama to: Approve the Philippine request to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Philippine nationals and to provide drone technology to the Philippines which will help against China’s aggression in grabbing Philippine territory and valuable marine and energy resources.

The grant of TPS will allow Filipinos in the U.S. with temporary visas such as students, visitors, business people and even those in illegal status – to be able to stay, have work permits and even have permits for overseas travel.

The USP4GG is a US based organization of prominent business people and professionals. It’s Chairperson is Loida Nicolas Lewis, a prominent activist entrepreneur and philanthropist, and its national presiddent is Rodel Rodis, former president of the San Francisco Community College District.

The USP4GG expressed its support for the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) which allows for greater rotational U.S. military presence in the Philippines.

“China is engaged in blatantly taking over Philippine territories and over valuable resources that rightfully belong to the Filipino people using the power of its military superiority. This is plain and simple immoral bullying tactics which civilized nations should not do. Realistically, the Philippines by itself cannot resist China’s aggression. We need help from the United States and the United Nations,” Lewis said.

The following is the complete text of the USP4GG letter to President Aquino.

His Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino III
Malacanang Palace
Manila, Philippines

Dear President Aquino:

We wish you well. We commend you on the unparalleled moral leadership you have provided to our people.

As citizens of both the United States and the Philippines, concerned about the well being of both countries and of the world in general, we are respectfully requesting for you to include in your discussions with President Barrack Obama the following matters.

1. With its tremendous military resources, China is blatantly engaged in the use of coercion and intimidation to grab Philippine territory which contains valuable marine and energy resources which rightfully belong to the Filipino people. Driven by her hunger for energy resources, to justify her aggressive actions, China is shamelessly using the dubious claim supposedly supported by ancient maps, that the whole West Philippine Sea belongs to her – including territories within the Philippines 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zone as determined under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) to which China is a signatory. The Philippines has brought this matter to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) which is commendable. However, it will take some time before a decision there is made and China has also announced its refusal to participate or to be bound by the Court’s decision. Meanwhile, China continues with its announced program to unrelentingly grab Philippine territories.

Realistically, the Philippines needs effective weaponry to deter China’s aggression. Because of limited economic resources compared to China – the Philippines can never match China’s supply of conventional armaments. As such, the Philippines needs more effective non-conventional weapons. The United States and NATO forces are now effectively utilizing drone technology in various military operations related to the anti-terrorist campaign in various places. Pilotless drone aircraft can carry attack rockets and bombs and also do spying activities. They can be controlled from stations hundreds of miles away. If the Philippines had access to this technology, we could effectively utilize it to keep China at bay without endangering the lives of our soldiers. The cost will be less than that spent for jet planes, ships or helicopters. As a staunch ally, the U.S. is strongly supportive of the Philippines in resisting against China’s aggression. As such, , please request and persuade President Barrack Obama to provide the Philippines with U.S. drone technology. This can be a great equalizer against China’s bullying tactics.

2. We fully support the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) which will allow greater U.S. military rotational presence in the Philippines. Given the reality of China’s immoral bullying and resource grabbing propensities and the fact that the Philippines is incapable of protecting itself against a military giant – getting military support from a a superpower ally like the U.S. makes absolute sense. This agreement is also not like having giant U.S. bases in the Philippines which makes sovereignty objections a non-issue.

Understandably, leftist groups connected to China are using the sovereignty card to prevent the presence of U.S. troops in Philippine soil. It is in fact China who is clearly infringing on Philippine sovereignty. This new agreement with the U.S. is simply a legitimate self-defense move. Except for these vocal leftist groups, which includes the Communist Party of the Philippines, please communicate to President Obama that Filipino-Americans and other Filipinos in the homeland and elsewhere strongly support the EDCA.

3. The Philippines has already requested the U.S. government to designate the Philippines as a Temporary Protected Status (TPS) country because of the terrible consequences of super typhoon Yolanda or Hainan as it is known internationally. If this request is granted, thousands of Filipinos in the U.S., whether in legal (visitors, students, businessmen, etc.) or illegal immigration status – will be allowed to stay, be given employment authorization and also be issued travel permits.

With this grant of TPS to Filipinos in the U.S., which will definitely increase remittances, they will be able to help not only the typhoon victims but also many other people in the homeland. This grant of TPS will also significantly positively affect the economy of the Philippines and increase the country’s dollar reserves. Please request President Barrack Obama to now approve TPS for Filipinos in the U.S. These matters are of great concern to Filipino Americans. Clearly, enabling these requests to President Obama to become realities will benefit Filipinos in the homeland as well as those in the United States and elsewhere.

Thank you for you attention and kindest regards,

US Pinoys for Good Governance (USP4GG)

Loida Nicolas Lewis, Chairperson Rodel Rodis, President