REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Resolution No.359

Introduced by Kabataan Party-List Rep. Raymond V. Palatino

A RESOLUTION
COMMEMORATING THE 19th ANNIVERSARY OF THE PHILIPPINE
SENATE’S REJECTION ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1991 OF A 10-YEAR BASES
TREATY WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND URGING
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND LEADERS TO RELIVE THE LESSONS OF THE
HISTORIC SENATE VOTE BY REJECTING LOPSIDED FOREIGN MILITARY
AGREEMENTS THAT ARE AN AFFRONT TO OUR NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY

WHEREAS, on 16 September 1991, a jubilant day for Philippine nationalism, the

Senate of the Philippines, in a 12-11 vote, rejected a proposed bases treaty entitled “A
Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Security” that would have given the United States
of America another ten years to maintain one of its most strategic bases, the Subic Naval
Base;

WHEREAS, twelve senators, namely Senate President Jovito Salonga and

Senators Agapito Aquino, Juan Ponce Enrile, Joseph Estrada, Teofisto Guingona Jr., Sotero
Laurel, Ernesto Maceda, Orlando Mercado, Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Rene Saguisag, Victor
Ziga and Wigberto Tañada introduced and supported Resolution No. 1259 of Non
Concurrence to “A Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Security”, which paved the way
for the approval of Senate Foreign Relations Committee Report No. 1422, recommending
before the Senate plenary its non-concurrence with the 10-year bases treaty;

WHEREAS, the foundation of and the moving force behind the Senate vote was
the broad and unified people’s movement outside the Senate that persistently called for
the rejection of the said bases treaty;

WHEREAS, the power of the people demonstrated on September 16, 1991

became the last nail on the US military bases coffin, removing the last most visible
vestiges of direct colonialism in the country and representing the desire of the Filipino
people that the relationship of the Philippines with the United States should be based on
justice, fairness and a common adherence to basic human rights, and that the country
should strive towards a policy of self-reliance and self-respect;

WHEREAS, years after the Senate rejected the US military bases treaty, the
signing of the Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and the United States
allowed American troops to enter Philippine soil again, undermining the triumphs of
September 16, 1991 and ultimately, the desire and struggle of the Filipino people for
national sovereignty;

WHEREAS, on 21 November 2002, a Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement

(MLSA) was entered into by the Philippine and American governments amidst protests
that it allows the return of American military bases in the country without complying with
the provisions of Section 25, Article XVIII of the Constitution,

WHEREAS, the commemoration of September 16, 1991 should likewise serve as

a challenge to the new government to relive and uphold the lessons and ideals of that
triumphant day particularly by reviewing and scrapping these lopsided foreign MILITARY
agreements and by always putting into consideration the preservation of national
sovereignty in its policy and decision-making;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the House of

Representatives commemorate the 19th anniversary of the Philippine Senate’s rejection
of the proposed 10-year bases agreement on September 16, 1991 and that the lessons
and ideals of that historic day serve as a reminder to our leaders and policy-makers to
always uphold national sovereignty above all and at all costs.

Adopted,

HON. RAYMOND V. PALATINO

Representative, Kabataan Party-list