(Unsplash)


Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda wants to know the be-all, end-all of the expanded military presence of the United States (US) in the Philippines. "It’s a fair price to ask for clarity,” Salceda, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, said in a statement Sunday, July 9. “The US has dramatically expanded its military footprint in the Philippines, so it is important that lawmakers understand how, when, and to what extent that presence will be used," he said. Under the current Marcos administration, the US was able to add four new locations in the Philippines to the original five in their Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) Signed by the two nations on April 28, 2014, the EDCA allows the US to rotate troops into the Philippines for extended stays and allows the US to build and operate facilities on Philippine bases for both American and Philippine forces. The Philippines and US are long-time military allies under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT). "What counts as an act of aggression that the US will defend the Philippines from? I think clarity on that scale is also a deterrent to would-be aggressors. Otherwise, what’s the point of having the US here with their big guns?” asked Salceda, who is an administration congressman. The Bicolano said he'll try to get answers to his questions when the House deliberates on the proposed 2024 budget of the Department of National Defense (DND) during the second regular session of the 19th Congress. Specifically, Salceda says he will seek an update from the DND as to the review of the MDT. “I don’t think we should be content with the United States' policy of ‘strategic ambiguity’ in Asia-Pacific. I support the reinvigorated partnership between our countries. But having more US bases here serves their security interests," he further said.