Marcos wants EDCA reviewed

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 22): Marcos wants EDCA reviewed

To ensure that the country will get the best deal, the next administration should revisit the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and United States, according to Vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr.

Marcos said that since the agreement did not undergo scrutiny by lawmakers, it was proper for the new government to look at it.

"I still maintain my position that the agreement should have been ratified by the Senate but it was not submitted to us so we did not have any means to review it,” he said in an interview in Olongapo City, where his Unity Caravan visited on Tuesday.

Marcos noted that since the Supreme Court (SC) already ruled on the deal's constitutionality, it should be reviewed to make sure that the country is not put at a disadvantage.

"Kailangan balikan iyan pero it is a signed deal already. Ngunit pwede pa naman natin balikan at tingnan ng mabuti ang operational effect nitong EDCA na kasama ng mga Amerikano,” he said.

Although he said that the US was an ally of the Philippines, it was highly possible that it would agree to review the agreement and make clear some of the provisions.

“Pwede nating pag-usapan ito dahil kaibigan naman natin ang mga Amerikano to make sure we get the possible deal for the Filipinos and while they provide protection and some form of security, hindi masyado maliwanag sa EDCA kung ano ito at iyan ang dapat pag-usapan,” the lawmaker added.

Marcos said among the questionable provisions in the agreement included the prohibition of access by Filipino personnel and the kind of equipment that would be used in the exercises and the facilities that would be built by the Americans.

"Bakit may mga areas na hindi allowed ang Philippine personnel? Anong equipment ang dadalhin kasi sinasabi ng ating pamahalaan na marami tayong makukuha na bagong equipment? Marami silang itatayong mga bagong building so interesado ang lahat kung ano ang mga facilities na yun at kung anong equipment na dadalhin nila dyan,” Marcos pointed out.

He was one of the senators who insisted that the EDCA should have been submitted to the Senate for ratification.

The SC, voting 10-4, however voted to uphold its constitutionality saying it was just an implementing agreement of existing treaties like the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Mutual Defense Treaty.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=869241