US, Phl to discuss US troops deployment

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Top United States and Filipino military officials are scheduled to discuss later this month the areas that may be accessed by US forces as part of their planned increased rotational presence in the Philippines, a senior military official said today.

Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said the issue will be on the agenda during the annual meeting of the Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board which are co-chaired by him and US Pacific Command chief Adm. Samuel Locklear.

Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and US ambassador Philip Goldberg signed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) in April this year, hours before the arrival of visiting US President Barrack Obama.

EDCA allows the US forces to put up facilities inside Philippine military camps for the repositioning of troops and assets.

"We will discuss important issues, including the areas where they will reposition their humanitarian equipment and the areas that they want to develop for their prepositioning," Catapang said.

At least three petitions, questioning the constitutionality of EDCA, have been filed before the Supreme Court.

The court has yet to issue ruling on the three motions, one of which was filed by the group of former senators Rene Saguisag and Wigberto Tanada.