BAYAN Muna Party-list Representative Neri Colmenares called on US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Monday to clarify whether $2 million out of the $30 million dollar military aid to the Philippines for 2010 was withheld by the US or not.

House Speaker Prospero Nograles, who just arrived from a visit to the US during the break, confirmed that the $2 million dollars has indeed been withheld.

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“The two million dollars is not a bill but an aid due to us already but being withheld by America because they want to know what we are doing about human rights,” Nograles said.

A conflict between Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and Colmenares' statements ensued when Colmenares said that US State Department officials led by Director Raymond Richhart admitted that the US withheld $2 million of aid this year while Teodoro said that the Philippines got all the aid.

Nograles said that right after attending the joint session of the US Congress and Senate, he sent an email to the Committee on Human Rights of the American Congress that contained efforts to strengthen human rights such as increasing lawyers and deputies in the Committee on Human Rights under the Philippine Congress.

Colmenares said the $2 million was withheld due to three conditions: the implementation of the US' recommendations, prosecution of military officers in conflict with the law will be stopped and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as a matter of policy, does not use intimidation against legal organizations.

"Two million is probably small but it is very symbolic," Colmenares said.

Colmenares went to the US during the session break to convene with state department officials regarding the $2 million in question.

Clinton should also clarify why she did not pass her required report, which approved the human rights record of the Philippines recommending the release of the $2 dollars, according to Colmenares. The failure to pass the required report caused the amount in question to be withheld.

Under the Appropriations Law of the United States for 2009, the State Secretary is supposed to submit a report to the Congress for approval of the said amount.

Moreover, Colmenares said US President Barack Obama only recommended $15 million dollars in military aid but Sen. Daniel Inoue "reportedly single-handedly increased it to the $30 million aid that stands now."

"Why do they allow a senator to change the policy of foreign aid? Why does Senator Inoue, who hasn't even talked to human rights groups in the Philippines continue to support foreign aid. Why is foreign aid continuous even with the human rights condition in the Philippines?" Colmenares said.

In line with the questioning the US' intent in sending military aid, Colmenares also said that Clinton should not use her upcoming visit to push for the implementation of the Visiting Forces Agreement on the Filipinos. (Angela Casauay/Sunnex)