Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 30) — Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Thursday suggested ending a key military agreement with the United States after an American lawmaker refiled a bill seeking to block assistance to Philippine security forces due to alleged human rights violations.
In an online media interview, Dela Rosa initially shrugged off the proposed Philippine Human Rights Act reintroduced by US Representative Susan Wild early this month. It seeks to withhold aid to the Philippine National Police (PNP) until human rights standards are met.
“Wala naman [None really], we can’t feel it,” the former PNP chief said when asked what the Philippines would lose should the proposal pass the US Congress this time around.
But when asked about the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), a 2014 deal that allows US troops to be stationed in certain locations in the Philippines for joint exercises such as Balikatan, Dela Rosa responded with a threat.
“[D]apat mayroon din tayong…ang mga senador dito mag-file din ng resolution na kapag ganoon, na ayaw nilang may mga politiko silang ganoon na manggugulo na kunyari human rights, human rights, puputulin ang suporta ng Pilipinas, oh sige, pagpatuloy ninyo at puputulin din namin yung EDCA dito. ‘Wag na kayo mag-exercise exercise dito. Ginagamit lang ninyo kami para mag-raid kayo sa Taiwan. Anong klaseng relationship ito, one way?” he said.
[Translation: Senators here should also file a resolution that if they don’t want politicians to cause trouble hiding behind human rights and threatening to cut support for the Philippines, go ahead, and we will also cut the EDCA here. Don’t hold exercises here. You are only using us so you can raid Taiwan. What kind of relationship is this, one way?]
Dela Rosa added that he may file a resolution against EDCA.
