We are unofficially part of the "Coalition of the Willing" again?

The US gov't now has a recruiting center in Subic for those who want to enlist as mercenaries in Iraq.

According to Malaya:

US outfit recruiting mercenaries

Subic to serve as enlistment center in war against Iraq

BY AMADO P. MACASAET

THE SUBIC Freeport, a former US naval base, has acquired a new role as a center for the recruitment of Filipino mercenaries to fight America’s war in Iraq.

Sources in Subic said an American company, Blackwater, recently signed an agreement with chairman Fil Salonga of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority to put up a recruitment office at the economic zone.

The recruitment of Filipinos to fight America’s war in the Middle East has sparked fears of terrorist attacks on the Philippines as well as Filipino companies, citizens and offices abroad.

It will be recalled that President Arroyo was the first to give support to the US war against terrorism after the al Qaeda attack which felled the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in downtown Manhattan and killed close to 5,000 people.

The mercenaries, sources said, are to be paid between $60,000 to $80,000 a year, which is half the amount Blackwater pays to American recruits.

Blackwater prefers young men with military background or experience.

A source said this could drain the Armed Forces of experienced junior officers, non-commissioned officers and enlisted men.

Read the whole thing.

At least trabaho pa rin yan para sa mga kababayan natin, hindi ba? At kung totoo ito, mukhang maayos na naman ang relasyon ng US at Arroyo admin at myembro na naman tayo ng "Coalition of the Willing."

If you'll recall, medyo nasira ang relasyon ng US at Arroyo admin nung nag-surrender ang Arroyo admin sa demands ng mga terrorists at premature nilang pinull out ang mga RP troops. And I criticized Arroyo for that irresponsible move of hers. But the arroyo admin were not afraid of the consequences of displeasing the US back then dahil na-secure na ni ARroyo ang "pagkapanalo" niya bilang presidente, at akala nya'y hindi na niya kailangan ang US.

UPDATE: Blackwater USA now hiring Filipino Mercenaries

US mercenary firm now hiring

Operation OK’d by SBMA, Palace


BLACKWATER USA, the US outfit hiring foreign mercenaries to help fight America’s war against Iraq, has started recruiting experienced VIP bodyguards from its office at the Subic Freeport, sources yesterday said.

Blackwater went ahead despite the lack of a "locator’s license" after its local representative, Romy Redeliza, got the go-ahead signal from Fil Salonga, chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, sources said.

National security adviser Norberto Gonzales described yesterday’s report that Blackwater has set up shop at Subic as a product of Malaya’s "too fertile imagination."

But the sources said Blackwater’s recruitment of Filipinos, particularly combat-experienced active and retired soldiers, has been cleared with the Palace by a certain Bong Cuevas who claims to work at the Office of the President.

The Department of National Defense reportedly has not been informed about the presence of Blackwater in a non-military area like SBMA, a special economic zone created during the term of President Fidel Ramos.