PHL, US military execs to tackle sites for US facilities in October

From GMA News (May 16): PHL, US military execs to tackle sites for US facilities in October

Top military officials from the Philippines and the United States will meet in October to tackle which Philippine bases will host American troops and facilities as stipulated under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the two countries.

In an interview Friday, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Emmanuel Bautista said details on "agreed locations" under the EDCA will be ironed during a meeting of the Mutual Defense Board (MDB) five months from now.

Bautista, who co-chairs the board with the US Pacific Command Commander, added that preliminary talks on military bases for increased rotational presence of American troops will be held prior to the actual MDB meeting.

"May proseso tayo to do that. It's not really up me as a person. Merong proseso to determine the bases that will be offered and may approval process yan, and then paguusapan yan sa MDB," the AFP chief told reporters during the closing ceremonies of the joint US-Philippines military exercise at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

He likewise maintained that he personally wants the US to help the Philippines develop three military bases facing the West Philippine Sea: Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Naval Station San Miguel in Zambales and Oyster Bay in Palawan.

"They are good bases that can be developed. There is room for development in these bases," Bautista said.

[Video report: Osyter Bay in Palawan as a possible site for basing US troops as part of EDCA]

Before US President Barack Obama's arrival in Manila two weeks ago, Philippine and American officials signed the EDCA, which will allow an enlarged rotational presence of American troops in the country. The new defense pact is effective for 10 years. 

The new defense pact was entered into by the two countries amid rising tension between the Philippines and China over disputed territories in the South China Sea, which Manila calls the West Philippine Sea.

Under the EDCA, the Philippines authorizes US forces to train, refuel aircraft and preposition their supplies within Philippine territory, which has yet to be agreed upon by both parties. 

During a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino said any part of the Philippines can become an "agreed location" that US troops can access under the EDCA. 

The EDCA has been criticized by several Filipino lawmakers for supposedly violating constitutional provisions, and for the supposed lack of limitations on locations for increased US rotational presence in the Philippines.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/361296/news/nation/phl-us-military-execs-to-tackle-sites-for-us-facilities-in-october