AFP chief defends EDCA amid pleas, impeachment rap
MANILA, Philippines — The military maintained that the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States would be beneficial to the country even as President Aquino is facing an impeachment complaint over the bilateral deal.
Armed Forces chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang said EDCA would enhance their humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations.
"If [EDCA] is delayed, we might not be able to respond immediately if there are strong typhoons. We want to pre-position HADR equipment, airplanes and boats. There will be a big effect if we do not [implement it]," he told reporters at the Navy headquarters in Manila on Friday.
Catapang believes the delayed implementation of the agreement can delay efforts to protect the public and the state.
"It's really urgent. It is really urgent. And it should be implemented as soon as possible," he said.
Catapang was asked to react to the move of militant groups to file an impeachment complaint against the President over EDCA, a deal that will provide the US greater access to Philippine bases.
The legality of the defense deal has also been challenged before the Supreme Court.
"This is a free country. You can talk. You can file cases and hopefully it will be decided upon by the Supreme Court. We'll just await the Supreme Court decision," Catapang said.
The Philippines and the US signed the EDCA last April in a move widely seen as a strategy to counter China's aggressive expansion in the region. Officials said the 10-year deal would help modernize the Philippine military, one of the weakest in the region.
The agreement will allow the US to construct temporary facilities and to store equipment in Philippine military bases. Officials are now determining what bases will be covered by the agreement, which was negotiated for eight months.
Last Thursday, an impeachment complaint against the President was filed by militant groups who believe that the signing of EDCA constituted a culpable violation of the constitution and betrayal of public trust.
Three petitions questioning the constitutionality of EDCA have also been filed before the Supreme Court.
The first petition was filed by former Senators Rene Saguisag and Wigberto Tañada, two of the twelve lawmakers who favored the shutdown of US bases in the Philippines in 1991.
They claimed that EDCA has no legal basis because the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the US has been superseded by the 1987 Constitution, which renounces war as a national policy.
The second petition was filed by lawmakers who belong to the Makabayan bloc of the House of Representatives and leaders of different groups.They argue that EDCA would only benefit the US and could lead to "a derogation of our country's dignity and an unconscionable sellout of our sovereignty."
The third petition, filed by the Kilusang Mayo Uno and the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement, claimed that the deal violated constitutional provisions on national sovereignty, territorial integrity and interests, freedom from nuclear weapons and autonomy of local government units. – with a report from I. Bongcales
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