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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Pimentel gives clarifications on EDCA expansion 

Pimentel gives clarifications on EDCA expansion 

Published Apr 19, 2023 09:59 am
Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel (Senate PRIB)




Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III on Wednesday, April 19, clarified that the additional four sites as well as the present negotiation of the Philippine government with the United States (US) regarding the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) do not intend to change any word or provision in the nine-year agreement. During today’s public hearing by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Pimentel said the present EDCA agreement would not be changed and that the extent of PH-US military exercises are only addendum to the existing agreement. “When we are discussing with our counterparts, the end product is an annex to EDCA, so we don’t even attempt to change the terms of EDCA, this is just an annex to be cleared…we are making the commitment that no matter how extensive the discussions are, there will be no attempt, desires, or intention to change any word in EDCA or the agreement,” Pimentel said. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) wanted to strengthen the country’s maritime security capabilities and improve its defense network in the region through the alliance and enhanced military activities with the US. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, on the other hand, asked what was the end-goal of EDCA. He also scrutinized the reason and criteria for choosing the locations where the US troops will have access to under the EDCA. At least four locations had earlier been identified as additional EDCA sites:  Camilo Osias Naval Base in Sta Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan. Gatchalian wondered aloud whether the four EDCA sites were really strategic for the Philippines and the Filipino people, and not for the US. If the end-goal of EDCA is for humanitarian and disaster-response purposes, Gatchalian pointed out that there are other areas that are more disaster-prone than the four locations chosen as additional EDCA sites for purposes of quick response. “That’s why I’m looking for the end-goal. If the end-goal is to help capacitate ourselves or to ward off terrorism, I assume that the [EDCA] sites will be located in areas where we need to strengthen our capacities. That’s why I’m looking for the end-goal,” he said.

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Sen. Koko Pimentel EDCA
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