AFP chief Lieutenant General Gregorio Catapang Jr says the implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) cannot be derailed
URGENT: AFP chief
Gregorio Catapang says EDCA should be implemented immediately. Rappler photo
New Armed Forces chief Lieutenant General Gregorio Catapang Jr cautioned against 'jumping the gun' on the Supreme Court's verdict on the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the United States and the Philippines.
"We still have to
find out if it's unconstitutional. We cannot jump the gun. Let's see if it will
be declared unconstitutional," Catapang said on Thursday, July 24, when
sought for comment.
General Catapang was
reacting to the 67-page impeachment
complaint filed against President Benigno Aquino III over the military
agreement.
"This is a free
country. You can talk and you can file cases. Hopefully, it will be decided by
the Supreme Court. We will just await," Catapang added.
The complaint was
endorsed by Gabriela Representative Emmi de Jesus and ACT Teachers
Representative Antonio Tinio of the leftist Makabayan bloc in the House of
Representatives.
It argues that the
President violated the Constitution and betrayed public trust because he
approved an agreement that they say "surrendered national sovereignity and
compromised our territorial integrity."
Complainants cited the
constitutional ban on the presence of foreign troops and bases, as well as the
use and entry of war materials.
Lawmakers have raised
issues against EDCA, too, saying that the deal more closely resembles a treaty,
which requires the ratification of the Senate.
The Supreme Court has
yet to release its decision on the matter.
It's the third valid impeachment complaint against President Aquino separately endorsed by Makabayan lawmakers. The first two complaints were based on the administration's Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), which was already declared partially unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. (READ: Filed: First valid impeachment complaint vs Aquino and Youth groups file 2nd impeachment raps vs Aquino)
'EDCA implementation is urgent'
The military chief
stressed that delays in the implementation of EDCA means delaying the assistance
that the US is offering the Philippines
"If (EDCA) is
delayed, we cannot immediately respond to strong typhoons that will hit the
country." Catapang said. "We want to preposition HADR equipment,
airplanes and boats. It will have a huge impact if we cannot immediately accept
offers of assistance," he added.
EDCA also expands
existing cooperation arrangements between the Phiilppines and US militaries
through the construction or upgrade of military facilities, and storage and
prepositioning of defense equipment and supplies in "agreed
locations."
The Philippines and the US
"We will still meet.
The MDB-SEB (Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board) will meet and then
we will identify the areas that we can offer to them," Catapang said when
asked about the status of EDCA's implementation.
As AFP chief, Catapang
is the co-chairman of the MDB-SEB. He said he supports the recommendation of
his predecessor, General Emmanuel Bautista, to offer the naval outpost in
Palawan's Oyster Bay, Fort Magsaysay
in Nueva Ecija, and Subic Bay in Zambales.
Catapang assumes the
post as the Philippine military shifts its focus from internal defense to
external defense. In his speech before Navy officers on July 24, Catapang
recognized that the Navy will play a key role in the future of the military.
"The Navy will be a
strong muscle that our country will count on to protect our people and the
state," Catapang said.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/64277-catapang-edca-impeachment
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