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Imee: Why should PH rely on foreigners for its external defense?

Philippines | National

Imee: Why should PH rely on foreigners for its external defense?

By Mario Casayuran

Senator Imee Marcos (Senate PRIB)

Senator Imee Marcos wonders why the Philippine government should rely on foreigners for its external defense. Marcos, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, brought this up after MalacaÃ±ang agreed to the addition of four Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the Philippines for the pre-positioning of United States (US) armaments and personnel. Two of the additional sites will be in Cagayan province, one in Isabela, and one in Palawan. During her committee hearing, Marcos said the country appears to have forgotten the need for modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) because the purpose of EDCA is for disaster preparedness, maritime security, and counter-terrorism. This would lead to the deterioration of useless and old AFP armaments, she pointed out. Acting Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Carlito Galvez said the purpose of EDCA was to modernize the AFPÂ for it to be able to defend the country, alongside its allies. The current AFP modernization program, described as Horizon 3, includes the purchase of radars systems, missile systems and offshore patrol vessels. Unsatisfied with the answers she heard, Marcos asked Galvez to submit an explanation om how EDCA can help in the modernization of the AFP.

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Senator Imee Marcos EDCA

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