Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 3) — A number of senators have no problem with the expansion of US military presence in the country.
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For Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, the US has always been an ally when it comes to territorial disputes, and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) aims to boost the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) defense capabilities.
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“While it is seen as directed at enhancing the PH-US security alliance, which is one of the longest military alliances in the world, I trust that whatever possible repercussions had been carefully studied by officials from the Executive,” Estrada said.
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“From what I gathered, the EDCA sites are primarily earmarked for humanitarian assistance and disaster response facilities, and it’s part of the modernization efforts of the AFP, therefore it’s not directed toward any country,” he added.
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Estrada also said the move is aligned with the president’s first state of the nation address, where he vowed to “chart an independent foreign policy with the national interest as a primordial guide.”
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Although disagreeing with the EDCA, Senate Minority leader Koko Pimentel said he supports the practice of the nation’s sovereign power to enter into agreements.
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“As a sovereign nation we are free to enter treaties and agreements which we believe are or will be good for us. Although I disagree with EDCA (the use of PH territory for basing of US personnel and/or supplies) I will uphold our power to enter into agreements as a sovereign nation,” Pimentel said.
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Sen. Francis Tolentino, vice chairman of the committee on foreign relations, said allowing US forces access to four more sites is in line with the 2014 EDCA.
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He said the deal provides for the temporary and rotational presence of American troops, and not the establishment of permanent US bases. He added that conditions must be followed, including the non-entry of nuclear weapons and respect for Philippine laws and the country’s ownership of agreed locations.
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On protesters’ concerns it would increase US’ intervention in the region, Tolentino said there is nothing wrong if this will promote peace.
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“Intervention that will degrade your sovereignty perhaps will be bad, but if the intervention is to foster peace in a manner which is conducive to existing international laws, there’s no problem with that,” he said.
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“If you’re talking of maintenance of peace in the West Philippine Sea, what’s wrong with that?” the senator added.
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Tolentino said it will have no negative impact on the territorial dispute with China in portions of the West Philippine Sea.
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“We’ve seen the repercussions if there are repercussions. I don’t think it should alarm, irritate a foreign nation because I would see the EDCA as mere reiteration or in furtherance of the MDT,” he told reporters, referring to the decades-old Mutual Defense Treaty.
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Tolentino said that while EDCA does not need Senate concurrence, the chamber can ask the Department of National Defense for updates on its implementation, including the disbursement of fund to secure the EDCA sites.
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In a separate statement, Sen. Chiz Escudero said the full implementation of EDCA will promote regional stability with the help of a long-standing ally.
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“The expansion of EDCA is well within the bounds of such agreement and will help promote regional stability together with a long-time ally of the Philippines – the United States,” he said.
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