Noy, Obama to tackle sea dispute, EDCA

MANILA, Philippines – It may not be on the agenda of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, but President Aquino is discussing with US President Barack Obama rising tensions in disputed waters in the region on the sidelines of APEC.

This was disclosed yesterday by US Ambassador Philip Goldberg, who said the two leaders are also expected to tackle the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Goldberg attended the annual Veterans Day commemoration at the Manila American cemetery at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

He was asked whether Aquino and Obama would have bilateral discussions on security issues including the EDCA, which would post US troops in the Philippines on a rotational basis.

“I would imagine they will,” Goldberg said. “When the two presidents get together, those are issues of mutual concern.”

Implementation of the 10-year pact, signed by the two governments last year shortly before Obama visited Manila in April, has been snagged by legal challenges brought before the Supreme Court.

Obama and Aquino are expected to hold a bilateral meeting Wednesday morning next week.

Goldberg said that while he did not want to preempt the US president on the purpose or possible outcome of the bilateral talks, he was certain the meeting between the two leaders would further bolster relations between the US and the Philippines.

He said discussions would center on “our mutual interests, our shared interests,” including the climate change meeting in Paris next month.

Goldberg also reaffirmed his country’s commitment to further improve its relations with the Philippines in all aspects, especially economic.

He said the United States is eager to hear a favorable Supreme Court decision on EDCA. A news report earlier this week, citing unidentified court sources, said the SC would uphold the constitutionality of the pact.

The Senate has issued a resolution declaring EDCA a treaty that needs the chamber’s concurrence.

EDCA allows the US military to set up camps inside major military bases of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as well as to store or pre-position armaments and materiel.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Goldberg signed EDCA on April 28, 2014, ahead of the state visit of Obama in Manila on April 28 and 29 last year.

The SC is set to vote on the petitions against EDCA on Nov. 16. Obama is again expected to arrive in the country for the APEC summit on Nov.18-19.

The Department of National Defense (DND) has maintained that there is no need for Senate concurrence of EDCA as the latter is already tied to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the Philippines and the US.

Meanwhile, Goldberg could not say if Obama would have a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

China has prevailed upon the Philippines, being the APEC host, not to discuss the South China Sea issue in the economic forum.