Philippine, US conclude fifth negotiations on rotating troops

The Philippines and the United Stated have concluded the fifth round of negotiations for a framework agreement on increased rotational presence of U.S. forces in the Philippines, the military announced here Wednesday. Spokesman of Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) Peter Paul Galvez said in a statement on Wednesday that the Philippines and the United States arrived at "common understanding on key issues such as security and related topics while clarifying their respective views on other matters" during the fifth round of negotiations which concluded on Jan. 31 in Washington. The statement quoted DND undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino, chair of the Philippine panel negotiating the agreement, as describing the fifth round of negotiations as "candid yet friendly. " The two panels began negotiations on the framework in August last year. But the two panels had disagreed on some of the proposals offered by the U.S. side. The next round of talks is scheduled for early next month. The Philippine Senate voted to shut down in 1991 the U.S. bases in the country. In 1999, the legislative body ratified the Visiting Forces Agreement which allowed American soldiers to conduct joint drills with their Filipino counterparts. ..