The United States may be granted basing rights in Mindanao by the Bangsamoro Political Entity once the final peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is signed and implemented, according to an in-house think-tank of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).The Office of Strategic and Special Studies (OSS) said Washington played a key role in the peace talks both directly, through "secret" meetings between US officials and MILF leaders, and indirectly by providing aid. A book published by the OSS entitled, "In Assertion of Sovereignty: The Peace Process" said, "One thought is about an American-led plot to lend a debt of gratitude by helping Mindanao become independent and get repaid in terms of grant of US rights to set up bases there."
According to the OSS, General Santos City in South Cotabato is under consideration as the future site for a US base.
From 1999 to 2008, six meetings between US government officials and MILF leaders have reportedly taken place.
"In February 2008, (former) US ambassador Kristie Kenney visited the main militant base of Camp Darapanan in the town of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao and met with MILF chairman Al Haj Murad and Central Committee members," the book said.
The meetings were so secret that "the visit was done apparently with no prior co-ordination with the appropriate government authorities."
"The day before the visit, Kenney was with then DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo for the opening of the Balikatan exercises," it said.
Reports about Kenney's "secret" meeting with the MILF leaders was first made known by WikiLeaks in 2011. The OSS book has confirmed this.