Despite the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA)
being declared constitutional by the Supreme Court (SC), US forces will not be
arriving in the Philippines
Col. Restituto Padilla, Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) spokesman, said the number of participating US troops in any exercises is
dependent on the recommendation of the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement
Board (MDB-SEB).
"If the assessment of the MDB-SEB (found out that)
these are necessary to increase our interoperability then it will be
done," he added.
Possible Filipino military bases to be opened under the EDCA
include Fort Magsayay in Nueva Ecija; Crow Valley in Tarlac; Basa Air Base, in
Floridablanca, Pampanga; Benito Ebuen Air Base in Mactan, Cebu; Camp Lapu-Lapu,
Cebu; Camp Macario Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz; Naval Station San Miguel in San
Antonio, Zambales, Antonio Bautista Airbase, Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Lumbia
Airfield in Cagayan De Oro and Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City.
Department of National Defense (DND) spokesman Dr. Peter
Paul Galvez earlier said the EDCA will help boost Philippine maritime security
and HADR capabilities.
"The DND welcomes the ruling of our SC declaring EDCA
constitutional. With this development that builds upon our mutual defense
treaty, we look forward to advancing our defense modernization and
strengthening maritime Security and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief
capabilities," he said.
The SC on Tuesday voted 10-4-1, declaring EDCA as
constitutional.
It also upheld the position of the government that the EDCA
is an executive agreement and does not need the Senate concurrence.
In the same vein, Galvez said this puts the AFP in a better
position to improve interoperability with the US
Finalized after eight rounds of talks that began in August
2013, EDCA, which signed in 2014, allows US
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=846548
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