om the initial economic crisis but also has experienced phenomenal growth. Economically, the removal of the U.S. Bases was a step in the right direction. However, the same cannot be said about the impact the U.S. withdrawal has had on politics, especially on the issue of Philippine security. Even today, the Philippine government is plagued with the problem of internal strife against the countless rebel groups dissatisfied with the current political agenda that appears to only benefit the political elite. The great economic growth has had minimal effect on the masses of Filipino poor who flock to these groups for redemption. In addition, the Armed Forces of the Philippines have proven to be too ill equipped and trained to deal with both the internal and eternal threats to their country. In light of this, I feel the Philippines would do well to consider agreements such as the VFA that would allow the U.S. Military to aid them while keeping Philippine soil free of U.S. Bases. If such a compromise cannot be reached there is certainly the option of building better relations with neighboring South East Asian nations, an option that, in the past, has not been fully addressed. ...
