CAGAYAN – More than 5,000 Cagayanos joined a prayer rally led by Prayer for Peace Cagayan Movement at Rizal Park in Tuguegarao City on Monday, April 17.
The Cagayanos joined the prayer rally to voice out their strong opposition to Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement or EDCA sites in Cagayan.
Gov. Manuel Mamba thanked his constituents who joined the prayer rally. The people ventilated their respective opinions on the possible danger that the two EDCA sites would bring to the province.
"Masaya ako sa suportang ipinakita ng mga Cagayano sa panawagan natin sa ating panalangin sa Poong Maykapal. Ang ating panawagan ng patuloy na kapayapaan sa Cagayan, sa anti-war prayer rally o ang rally for peace, ang rally laban sa additional EDCA sites sa Cagayan (I’m happy with the support shown by the Cagayanos on our call on our Lord for peace, for continued peace in Cagayan),” said Mamba.
Among the speakers opposing the expansion of EDCA sites were mayors of Santa Ana, Camalaniugan, Piat, and Tuao.
“Sana nakikita ng national government ang damdamin ng mga Cagayano dahil walang pasabi o konsultasyon sa Cagayan ang pagkakaroon ng EDCA sites dito sa ating probinsya (I hope the national government is seeing the Cagayanos’ sentiments because there were no words nor consultation in Cagayan for choosing an EDCA site in the province),” added Mamba.
The two EDCA sites in Cagayan are the Naval Base Camilo Osias and Lal-lo Airport.
Mamba, who had publicly opposed any EDCA sites in Cagayan, had urged the people to unite against it.