Lawmakers say US helped promote ‘sex tourism’ in RP By Gerry Baldo 10/10/2011

Lawmakers say US helped promote ‘sex tourism’ in RP

By Gerry Baldo 10/10/2011

Amid the stir created by United States Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr.’s statement on “sex tourism” in the country, lawmakers yesterday retaliated by accusing the United States of contributing to the bad image of the country.

According to Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello, it was the United States that contributed to the alleged sex tourism in the country at the time when it was maintaining two huge military bases in Subic in Olongapo and at Clark Air Base in Pampanga.

“I think Ambassador Thomas might have exaggerated, but he was on the spot in underlining the fact that there is a lot of sex tourism by western men in the Philippines. He should also have acknowledged that the US bases created the problem and that the US soldiers deployed here under the VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement) contribute to the problem,” Bello said, adding he is inclined to accept the apology of the US ambassador.

“I would accept the apology and move on to the task of greater coordination between both governments to stop sex trafficking,” Bello said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111010met1.html