Philippines Demands U.S. Hand Over Air Base in Year

The Philippines today demanded that the United States hand over within 12 months control of Clark Air Base, headquarters of the U.S. 13th Air Force and a key American base in the Far East.

“The Philippines took the position that it shall assume sovereign control of Clark as soon as possible,” said Rafael Alunan, spokesman for the Philippine panel at negotiations on the future of U.S. military bases.

Asked if the takeover could happen by the time the U.S. lease on the bases expires next September, he said: “That is the position, and that is now under consideration by the American side.”

U.S. spokesman Stanley Schrager said his panel was willing to discuss “increasing (Philippine) sovereignty . . . toward the military facilities in the context of a transition period that is still to be determined.”

Clark, 50 miles north of Manila, is one of two major U.S. military bases in the Philippines.

Originally built as a U.S. cavalry post in 1901, Clark provides logistic support to American forces throughout the Pacific. The nearby port at Subic Bay services the U.S. 7th Fleet and has a major ship repair facility.

In a related development, the State Department on Wednesday night warned of a possible “imminent” bombing in downtown Manila and urged Americans to avoid the area until current negotiations between the United States and the Philippines over phasing out U.S. bases are over.

With no elaboration, State Department spokeswoman Margaret Tutwiler advised Americans “of a possible imminent terrorist bombing by the New People’s Army directed against U.S. government and/or public facilities particularly in the vicinity of Roxas Boulevard in Manila.”

Although the U.S. Embassy is on Roxas Boulevard, she did not say where the threat was directed specifically.