Manila Bulletin
Philippines
Senators raise concerns on new EDCA sites; Galvez insists PH not preparing for war
Philippines
Senators raise concerns on new EDCA sites; Galvez insists PH not preparing for war
Senators raise concerns on new EDCA sites; Galvez insists PH not preparing for war
Published Mar 1, 2023 10:09 am
We are not preparing for war.
Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. stressed this as four more sites are reportedly being planned to be established in the Philippines as part of the 2014 PH-US Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. updates senators Wednesday, March 1, 2023 on the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). Galvez briefs members of the Committee on Foreign Relations on the status or completion rate of the five EDCA sites; proposed location of the new EDCA sites; the purpose of each site; the benefits and risks of these new sites; and other matters related to EDCA. (Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)
Galvez emphasized that the 1954 PH-US Military Defense Treaty (MDT) serves as a deterrence in case of an armed attack against the Philippines.
Two of the four will reportedly be set up in Cagayan province in Northern Luzon. But Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba told Sen. Imee Marcos, chairperson of the Senate foreign relations committee, said he was not informed of such plans.
Mamba claimed these raised fears that Cagayan could be used as a launching pad for the United States (US) as probable place of defense should China decides to militarily force its territorial claim over Taiwan.
Marcos noted there are some 200,000 Filipinos in Taiwan.
Mamba told the Marcos committee that a US embassy official and two colonels had approached him on the two proposed EDCA site.
Marcos described this meeting as “serious” because mayors and barangay officials were approached first.
“China is our neighbor. Don’t tell us China is our enemy,” Mamba said, but stressed that he has not talked to the Chinese.
“Leave us where we are,” he added.
The Cagayan governor said the establishment of the bases should not be forced on them.
But on the economic front, Mamba sees Northern Luzon as a gateway for a progressive Philippines.
Galvez updated senators on the EDCA during the Marcos committee hearing on the status or completion rate of the five EDCA sites; proposed location of the new sites; purpose of each site (both old and new); benefits and risks of these sites; and other matters related to EDCA.
Marcos echoed concerns from local government officials whose jurisdictions were reportedly designated as new EDCA sites.
She said she told the Executive branch to prioritize the construction of unfinished EDCA spots, noting that only five of the 21 sites previously agreed upon were so far completed.
As a chess player, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said the Philippines should not be used as pawn in a perceived US-China power play. The former Senate President noted that about 80 percent of Filipinos favor the US.
Pimentel pointed out that the Philippine economy “is not based on war.”
Deputy Minority Leader Sen. Risa Hontiveros, for her part, called for a broader security coalition to ensure peace and security in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), saying the EDCA is not the only solution to attain this goal. Hontiveros pointed out that it is in the interest of many countries to maintain order in the entire South China Sea since around 80 percent of the global trade passes through the region. She said the government should focus on forging multilateral partnerships that could provide joint patrols and training of Philippine troops. “This means that we have to depend not only on the help of our former colonizers – the United States – but instead have security arrangements with the wider international community that is more than willing to support our cause,” Hontiveros said. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said he favors a multilateral cooperation to help the concerns of the Philippines. A tripartite cooperation is evolving with Japan is taking an aggressive stance following moves for a proposed PH-US-Japan military alliance, Manalo said. Manalo also added that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is also “very much in touch with Australia.”
Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. updates senators Wednesday, March 1, 2023 on the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). Galvez briefs members of the Committee on Foreign Relations on the status or completion rate of the five EDCA sites; proposed location of the new EDCA sites; the purpose of each site; the benefits and risks of these new sites; and other matters related to EDCA. (Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)
Galvez emphasized that the 1954 PH-US Military Defense Treaty (MDT) serves as a deterrence in case of an armed attack against the Philippines.
Two of the four will reportedly be set up in Cagayan province in Northern Luzon. But Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba told Sen. Imee Marcos, chairperson of the Senate foreign relations committee, said he was not informed of such plans.
Mamba claimed these raised fears that Cagayan could be used as a launching pad for the United States (US) as probable place of defense should China decides to militarily force its territorial claim over Taiwan.
Marcos noted there are some 200,000 Filipinos in Taiwan.
Mamba told the Marcos committee that a US embassy official and two colonels had approached him on the two proposed EDCA site.
Marcos described this meeting as “serious” because mayors and barangay officials were approached first.
“China is our neighbor. Don’t tell us China is our enemy,” Mamba said, but stressed that he has not talked to the Chinese.
“Leave us where we are,” he added.
The Cagayan governor said the establishment of the bases should not be forced on them.
But on the economic front, Mamba sees Northern Luzon as a gateway for a progressive Philippines.
Galvez updated senators on the EDCA during the Marcos committee hearing on the status or completion rate of the five EDCA sites; proposed location of the new sites; purpose of each site (both old and new); benefits and risks of these sites; and other matters related to EDCA.
Marcos echoed concerns from local government officials whose jurisdictions were reportedly designated as new EDCA sites.
She said she told the Executive branch to prioritize the construction of unfinished EDCA spots, noting that only five of the 21 sites previously agreed upon were so far completed.
As a chess player, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said the Philippines should not be used as pawn in a perceived US-China power play. The former Senate President noted that about 80 percent of Filipinos favor the US.
Pimentel pointed out that the Philippine economy “is not based on war.”
Deputy Minority Leader Sen. Risa Hontiveros, for her part, called for a broader security coalition to ensure peace and security in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), saying the EDCA is not the only solution to attain this goal. Hontiveros pointed out that it is in the interest of many countries to maintain order in the entire South China Sea since around 80 percent of the global trade passes through the region. She said the government should focus on forging multilateral partnerships that could provide joint patrols and training of Philippine troops. “This means that we have to depend not only on the help of our former colonizers – the United States – but instead have security arrangements with the wider international community that is more than willing to support our cause,” Hontiveros said. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said he favors a multilateral cooperation to help the concerns of the Philippines. A tripartite cooperation is evolving with Japan is taking an aggressive stance following moves for a proposed PH-US-Japan military alliance, Manalo said. Manalo also added that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is also “very much in touch with Australia.”