Solons move for the abrogation of EDCA

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 22): Solons move for the abrogation of EDCA

The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives has filed a resolution calling for the abrogation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the United States of America and the Republic of the Philippines.

Rep. Ariel Casilao (Partly-list, Anakpawis), principal author of House Resolution No. 31, said EDCA violates the Philippines’ national sovereignty, imperils the geo-political situation in the West Philippine Sea and endangers the livelihood of farmers, fisherfolk and indigenous people’s communities.

EDCA was signed by former President Benigno S. Aquino III and US President Barack Obama during the latter’s state visit in the country on April 28, 2014.

Prior to the signing, Casilao said the details of the agreement were not made public and the preparatory meetings conducted by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of National Defense and Office of the President regarding the drafting of the Framework Agreement for the Increased Rotational Presence, which started way back in 2011, were kept secret.

Casilao said Balikatan Military Exercises through the years have affected the communities of farmers and Aeta indigenous people around Camp O’Donnell and Crow Valley mountain range in Capas, Tarlac, around Clark Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation.

“These military exercises also affect the fisherfolk communities in Subic and San Antonio, Zambales, around Sangley Point in Cavite, Mactan Air Base in Cebu, San Jose, Antique, Puerto Princesa City and Oyster Bay in Palawan and other military bases and reservations in the country,” Casilao said.

Casilao said the country was transformed into a virtual US military base in the Asia-Pacific region, where US armed forces units have practically been given free reign in conducting operations of whatever nature in strategic points inside Philippine territory.

In fact, Casilao said, American soldiers are allowed to use the Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro, and Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu.

Rep. Carlos Zarate (Partylist Bayan Muna), co-author of the measure, said EDCA has facilitated the entry to the Philippine territory of US military vessels that can carry weapons of mass destruction such as submarines USS Ohio, a nuclear-powered submarine of US Navy, USS Tucson, USS Frank Cable, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers USS John C. Stennis and USS Ronald Reagan, F/A-18 fighter planes, and other weapons. This violates the constitutional ban on nuclear power, Zarate said.

Zarate said the growing US military presence in the Philippines has negatively affected the country’s international relations with other countries such as China.

Chinese aggression in the region correspondingly heightens as already shown in the latter’s incursive moves in the West Philippine Sea, its banning of Filipino fisherfolk in the Panatag Shoal, and its construction of man-made airstrips in the Fiery Cross Reef, Spratly islands, according to Zarate.

Rep. Emmi de Jesus (Party-list, Gabriela), also an author of the measure, said the continued US military presence in the country through EDCA complicates and even jeopardizes the country’s claim to the West Philippine Sea.

Citing Section 25, Article XVIII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, De Jesus said after the expiration in 1991 of the Agreement between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America concerning military bases, foreign military bases, troops, or facilities shall not be allowed in the Philippines except under a treaty duly concurred in by the Senate and, when the Congress so requires, ratified by a majority of the votes cast by the people in a national referendum held for that purpose, and recognized as a treaty by the other contracting State.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=906277