U.S.: Hospital in Philippines not forced to close by troop

U.S.: Hospital in Philippines not forced to close by troop
By Jimmy Norris, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Friday, January 4, 2007

U.S. Embassy officials in the Philippines on Wednesday disputed local media claims that U.S. military personnel forced the nighttime closure of a civilian hospital on Jolo island in the southern part of the country.

The media reports prompted the Armed Forces of the Philippines to launch an investigation on Monday.

“U.S. forces did not and would not order anyone in the Philippines regarding hospital hours or any other issue,” U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Rebecca Thompson said during a phone interview Wednesday. “U.S. forces are in the Philippines solely at the invitation of the government of the Philippines to provide assistance to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.”

Several media reports alleged that U.S. troops forced a hospital in Panamao municipality, on Jolo Island, to close at 6 p.m. in December, and prevented staff from treating patients after sundown, possibly because of alleged threats to U.S. military personnel working nearby.

Members of the U.S. Joint Special Operations Task Forces-Philippines are assigned to a nearby advanced operating base on the island.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=51394



uhc comment: There's an interesting discussion on this at military.com --> http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/672198221/m/3210019261001