Two-fold advantage awaits AFP on EDCA, says Magdalo rep

From the Philippine News Agency (May 6): Two-fold advantage awaits AFP on EDCA, says Magdalo rep

A former soldier turned politician on Tuesday said that the country gains two-fold advantage after representatives of the government of the Philippines and the United States signed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Magdalo Rep. Ashley Acedillo said that aside from training exposure for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, they will have a chance to test the authenticity of the US state-of-the-art military hardware.

“Despite the low level of modernization ng ating military ay hindi naman po tayo napag-iiwanan in terms of exposure. That will give us an idea where we should be headed in terms of modernizing our military. Second naman, yun pong increase ng military troops inside our camps and bases will require permanent structures,” Acedillo told reporters during the weekly forum, Ugnayan sa Batasan.

He said the structures will be left behind so this will redound to the benefit of our military especially the camps and bases where these permanent structures will be set up by the US military.

On the presumption that EDCA violates the Constitution because of the possibility that the US forces might bring in military hardware with nuclear, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said that he strongly believed that EDCA will not be declared unconstitutional because the agreement is very clear that they will abide by what the Philippine law says, including the Constitution.

“The preamble which is in the agreement says recognizing the United States access to, and use of facilities and with full respect for the Philippine constitution and Philippine laws. So that's it, the constitution says you will have no nuclear weapons to be stockpiled here, to be brought here," Rodriguez explained.

He emphasized that a premature allegation that US troops might attempt to sneak weapons with nuclear is something that is neither here nor there which cannot be a basis for going to the court and saying "they might bring it here."

“Any other constitutional provision aside from the nuclear provisions of Article II declaration of principles. So that is what we are saying, marami kasi ang nagsasalita "unconstitutional iyan," the veteran solon insists.

Another issue raised by some people against the agreement is that it needs to get the nod of the Senate because it is not a plain agreement but a treaty.

“The constitution says a treaty should be approved by a 3/4 votes of the Senate. They see it as a treaty. We see it as an agreement and this is precisely according to the agreement itself, this will enhance the implementation, as mentioned by Cong. Acedillo, that it is part of the Mutual Defense Treaty, the Visiting Forces Agreement and the logistical agreement that we have. So, ano iyon, so there is really no basis, I could not see any basis as a lawyer, as a former dean of the college of law, I could not envision now, when they say they are going to court and question this. Now, if there are actual violations then probably that is the time, if there will be a violation of the constitution by implementing this, then that is the time,” Rodriguez pointed out.

Acedillo who admitted that he was able to secure a copy of the agreement cited Article 4 Section 6 which says preposition materials shall not include nuclear weapons.

“So very clear po yan doon so not only do they recognize our laws, our Constitution and our laws prohibit nuclear weapons it is also expressly stated in the agreement that they will not be bringing in nuclear weapons into our camps and bases which will be hosting US military troops,” he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=640917