EDCA will pass constitutional test - US ambassador

From InterAksyon (Jun 27): EDCA will pass constitutional test - US ambassador

Notwithstanding challenges before the Supreme Court, US Ambassador Philip Goldberg is confident the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and his country will stand legal and constitutional scrutiny.

Speaking before the Philippine Constitution Association Thursday evening, Goldberg said the agreement was carefully crafted to ensure it would be "mutually beneficial" to the Philippines and the United States, and that it would meet the stipulations of the Constitution.”

"The reason it took eight months and eight rounds of formal and informal negotiations is because we have a concern in issues regarding sovereignty in the Philippines," he said. "We wanted to make sure that it would meet the constitutional requisites, to make sure that it would hold up to scrutiny, legally and politically."

He stressed that the new pact is based on the Mutual Defense Treaty and the Visiting Forces Agreement, which have been long in place.

He also disputed notions that the EDCA would lead to new military bases, saying the agreement only allows the increased presence of US troops in the country on a rotational basis, which he said is in line with his country’s “re-balance to Asia” and a recognition of the "importance of the Asia Pacific region to the US."

"The re-balance is a recognition that Asia is a growing economy ... there is the security element and that security element is important as an overlay for the economic side of the re-balance," he said.

Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez, who is also Philconsa president, said his group is still firming up its position on the EDCA, although he hinted at what that might be.

"Anything that goes for securing the country will supersede any other technical ‎and legal infirmities that it may seemingly pose. The ultimate goal of the Constitution is to secure the nation, anything that lends itself to that, we are quite supportive of," he said.

The EDCA was signed by Goldberg and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on April 28, just before US President Barack Obama arrived for a visit.

The government claims the pact presents a way to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines through more joint military exercises.

There are two petitions against EDCA before the Supreme Court.

One was filed by former senators Rene AV Saguisag and Wigberto Tanada, whow ere among the so-called “Magnificent 12” senators who, in 1991, voted to end the US-Philippines Bases Treaty.

Saguisag and Tanada were joined in the first petition by former University of the Philippines President Dr. Francisco “Dodong” Nemenzo Jr, former UP College of Law dean Pacifico Agabin, Sr. Mary John Mananzan, Atty. Steve Salonga (s)on of former Senate President Jovito Salonga, lawyers Harry Roque, Evalyn Ursua, and Edre Olalia, Dr. Carol Pagaduan-Araullo, Dr. Roland Simbulan, and former Bayan Muna Rep.Teddy Casino.

The other petition was filed by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, which has staunchly opposed any foreign military presence in the country and was also in the forefront of the campaign to kick out the former US bases.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/90014/edca-will-pass-constitutional-test---us-ambassador