Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 19) — A senator on Wednesday questioned the locations of the new sites of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) in Luzon, claiming that the military seems “obsessed” with the heightening tension between Taiwan and China.
During a Senate inquiry, Sen. Imee Marcos — who heads the foreign relations committee — said the choice “seems to be random” and “no longer purposeful” for the military’s push for modernization.
The additional four EDCA sites are located in Cagayan, Isabela, and Palawan.
“So we have given up all claims on the east sector, west sector of the Philippines seas. We are now obsessed with the Taiwan Strait?” Marcos asked Defense Officer-in-Charge Carlito Galvez Jr.
Galvez said the country’s armed forces remain “concentrated on the West Philippine Sea.”
However, the lawmaker was not convinced, saying Galvez gave “very contradictory statements.”
But the defense official insisted that choosing EDCA sites was strategic for the Philippines as they seek to provide “total defense of the archipelago.”
“The instruction of the president is for us to prepare for external defense. With that, we are trying to really allocate some resources and our modernization program on the northern side. Our vulnerability is on the north,” he said.
China has long been asserting its sovereignty in the disputed waters despite a 2016 ruling in The Hague that invalidated Beijing’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea.
Regarding the rising tension between China and Taiwan, China earlier said the Philippines might get drawn into the conflict as it has allowed the expansion of US military presence in the country.
Marcos also questioned that if the basis for choosing EDCA sites was to also accelerate humanitarian and disaster assistance, then why is there no EDCA site in Samar, which was gravely hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.
Galvez said there was an EDCA site that is east-facing, noting that they are also in talks with Gov. Luigi Villafuerte as the latter offered areas in Camarines Sur.
He also said the areas in Northern Luzon were “isolated” during previous typhoons.
On assigning EDCA sites for counterterrorism efforts in Mindanao, Galvez said there is an existing camp in Zamboanga and an extension arrangement in Cotabato City.
No written agreement on 4 EDCA sites
During the inquiry, the Senate panel also learned that the US and the Philippines have yet to agree in writing regarding the new EDCA sites.
“There is no annex as far as the four new sites are concerned. So what is the guiding document? You’re deploying personnel, making announcements, and shifting military strategy to external aggression and yet there’s no agreement,” Marcos said.
Galvez said both nations are still discussing the substance of the exchange of notes.
Once they agree on the exchange of notes, it would then be added to the annex of the deal, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said.
“The only development has been the announcement of four new sites, so I expect that we still have to enter into talks on terms of reference for the use of these new sites,” Manalo added.
