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iven the Filipino penchant for "dramatics," not to mention the circus atmosphere that inevitably encompasses any event of even minor significance, one can hardly blame American government officials for refusing to hand over US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton over to Philippine authorities. The intriguing question in all this however is why some Filipinos are so insistent on having custody over the accused. The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between both countries clearly states that "The custody of any United States personnel over whom the Philippines is to exercise jurisdiction shall immediately reside with United States military authorities, if they so request, from the commission of the offense until completion of all judicial proceedings." U.S. officials have acted quite appropriately from the very start. However a Filipino culture of mistrust, coupled with the desire to show Americans "who's boss" have more than a few Pinoys demanding Pemberton be turned over to Philippine authorities and placed in a Philippine jail cell.

Unfortunately, Filipinos are about to blow-off their big toe as they shoot themselves in the foot—yet again, should they insist on pursuing that pointless demand. The reason is because despite the Filipino's desire to view this case in isolation, no one else is viewing it that way. It is part of a continuum with China on one end and the U.S. on the other. And if the Philippines continues to insist that the accused be turned over to them, they are in effect telling the U.S. we don't trust you! And America's response would be "if you don't trust us, then why should we put our troops in harms way to defend you against China?"

December 15, 2014 came and went and China did nothing except thumb its nose at the Philippines. That date was the deadline the United Nations arbitral tribunal gave China to submit its response to the case filed against it by the Philippines. China did not respond because it likely has little respect for the Filipinos—just as Filipinos in past decades had little respect for the Chinese. In the final analysis however, it is what Filipinos will hand down to future generations that should matter to them. Will they bequeath  a carved-up archipelago? Or will we give tomorrow's Filipinos a complete country, including its shoals, reefs, banks, islands, and all the mineral resources that lie underneath them.

If Filipinos choose the latter, than they need as many nations as possible on their side. And with its top-notch military, America is the 500-pound gorilla that every country wishes it had on its side. So it is not too far-fetched to state that how Pinoys handle the Pemberton case today could well determine what any future Philippines might actually look like. Published 12/19/2014
 

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