New US bases deal for signing during Obama visit after all

From the opposition Daily Tribune (Apr 16): New US bases deal for signing during Obama visit after all

The Enhanced Defense Cooperation (EDC) agreement which the Palace has repeatedly denied was being rushed for a signing during the visit of US President Barack Obama on April 28 to 29 is already in the hands of President Aquino and will be signed during Obama’s visit after all.

The EDC is alternatively called the increased rotational presence deal that would allow US military forces and assets to have access to local military bases.  It is however, believed that the US will have its own military bases.

The EDC is a crucial agreement in support of the Obama administration’s policy to rebalance US forces for an increased presence in the Asia Pacific.
The Department of National Defense (DND) through spokesman Peter Paul Galvez said the draft of the agreement has been submitted to Aquino.

“According to (Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo) Batino, Philippine panel chairman, the two panels agreed to submit the latest drafts for their respective inter-agency reviews and approvals. There can also be some informal consultations between panels, if necessary,” Galvez said.

The supposed conclusion of the bases agreement came almost at the same time that the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lifted restrictions on local airlines by restoring the Philippines to a Category 1 air safety status.

The US Department of Agriculture (DA) also recently announced that it is now considering to import more mangoes from the Philippines.

“We are aware that the Federal Aviation (Administration) of the US, as with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), had already previously noted some concerns regarding aviation safety. And those concerns were duly addressed by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, resulting in the favorable outcome that was announced to us last week, so that is what it is all about,” Press Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma said, denying that the FAA decision was connected to the signing of the defense agreement.

Coloma said that everyone has to be “aware that there is an entire spectrum of relationships in the international field, both multilaterally and bilaterally.
“If in another front we get good news, then we welcome that news with total appreciation, and we hope that it will result in even more beneficial outcomes to our farmers and to our industry,” Coloma said.

He added that “there are many interdependencies” in denying that the US moves were all connected.

“Well, it’s something that arose even before there was any report on opening further talks on Enhanced Defense Cooperation,” Coloma said.

Presidential deputy spokesman Abigail Valte last Monday said Aquino was already doing the review of the document submitted by the Philippine panel for his approval which was expected to be one of the salient agenda in the coming visit of US President Obama on April 28-29 in Manila.

If the agreement has been finalized, then the next step would be for that agreement to be submitted for review by the President, as Coloma maintained that the EDC would be an executive agreement.

Congress wanted a look at the agreement first before acknowledging that it is indeed an executive agreement and not a treaty that would require Congressional approval.

“Definitely, it will have to be reviewed and finally approved by the President,” Coloma said.

Coloma would neither confirm nor deny that Aquino had on his table the copy of the agreement. “I will need to find out the current status,” Coloma said.

In the visit, Aquino and Obama would be expected to discuss defense, security and economic cooperation as well as the contentious issues of the West Philippine Sea which affects the Asean region.

“We can reasonably expect that the two heads of state will discuss topics of mutual concern in the aspects of defense and security, economic relations, and other areas that are regularly considered by both countries,” Coloma said.

Both the Philippines and the US negotiating panels had concluded the eighth round of negotiations, and they have found consensus on key provisions of the EDCA that made the agreement ripe for signing.

“I’m still awaiting a reply from DND if they have any available updates for now. But our latest status is what was conveyed to us as of this last weekend,” Coloma said.

Coloma did not say anything on whether the copy of the agreement would be released to the media for the public to know its provisions.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/new-us-bases-deal-for-signing-during-obama-visit-after-all