EDCA does not authorize establishment of US bases – DND

From the Philippine News Agency (May 13): EDCA does not authorize establishment of US bases – DND

The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) does not authorize the establishment of the United States bases in the Philippines, Department of National Defense (DND) undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino said Tuesday.

”It only allows the US military access to Agreed Locations in AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) bases,” Batino explained during the Senate inquiry conducted by committee on national defense into the EDCA signed during recent state visit of US President Barack Obama to the Philippines.

”The defining features of “foreign military bases” – extraterritoriality, exclusively in use and foreign ownership – will not be applicable in the Agreed Locations,” Batino, chairman of the EDCA panel, added.

Batino also told the Senate hearing chaired by national defense committee vice chair Loren Legarda that the EDCA is an implementation of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) reached between the Philippines and the United States in 1951.

He said EDCA is an implementation of the MDT while the status of the US forces is still governed by the PH-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), a treaty concurred in by the Senate and upheld by the Supreme Court.

”The entry of the US military troops for military exercises and other approved activities is already allowed under the VFA,” Batino said.

Batino also explained that the provisions of EDCA are consistent with the Philippine Constitution, laws and relevant jurisprudence.

The DND official told the Senate panel that the former US military bases in Subic is not among the agreed locations for the US military forces and equipments.

Batino also assured the country’s environmentally-protected areas will not be included the list of the agreed locations.

”Still we don’t have any certain location although Fort Magsaysay is being studied as possible humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR). Still, it has to go through the process,” Batino said.

Batino told the committee the EDCA will help build up the capability of the military and support efforts in dealing with aggressive expansionist acts in the region.

He said EDCA will also enable the government to respond more rapidly in times of natural disasters similar to super typhoon Yolanda that left almost 6,000 people dead in eastern Visayas last year.

”The EDCA will support efforts to prepare our nation for these challenges,” Batino said.

Batino also said the EDCA will facilitate defense cooperation with the US by undertaking the construction of facilities and infrastructure upgrades and storage and prepositioning of defense and HDAR equipment, supplies and material.

Batino said EDCA will also further benefit the Philippines economically “through the provision of jobs and other economic provisions in the construction activities in the Agreed Locations and procurement of local goods and supplies by the US military and personnel.”

Legarda said more hearing will be held soon to allow other senators including committee on national defense chairman Antonio Trillanes IV and Miriam Defensor Santiago who questioned the legality of the EDCA,

Legarda said Trillanes is out of the country.

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