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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider VP Sara agreeable to EDCA sites if it's used for disaster response

VP Sara agreeable to EDCA sites if it's used for disaster response

Published Jul 23, 2025 11:05 am
Vice President Sara Duterte questioned if the Philippine-US Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites are truly going to be used for the government’s disaster relief operations amid the effects of heavy rainfall and flooding in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Vice President Sara Duterte (MB File Photo)
Vice President Sara Duterte (MB File Photo)
“Unang-una, kailangan siguro nating tanungin kung totoo ba talaga na yung mga EDCA sites ay gagamitin for (First, we need to question if the EDCA sites are really going to be used for) disaster preparedness and response, o sinabi lang yun para lang may masabi patungkol sa EDCA sites (or they only said that so they can defend the EDCA sites),” she said on Tuesday, July 22, outside the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague, Netherlands.

The official had a chance interview with some supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who has been detained in The Hague since his extradition there in March for the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) crimes against humanity charges.

Her remarks came after Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said that the military sites will be used as “key hubs for humanitarian assistance” to preposition rescue equipment and consolidate relief goods.

Utilizing the EDCA sites would enable the military to deliver aid faster and more efficiently to hard-hit and remote areas, he added.

But while Duterte questioned the presence of EDCA sites because it was built on the Mutual Defense Treaty, she seemed to be agreeable to using the facilities for disaster relief response.

“Kung magkaroon ng agreement, iba pang agreement sa ilalim, sa loob ng EDCA about disaster preparedness and response, pwede yun (If there will be an agreement under the EDCA about disaster preparedness and response, that can be),” she said.

“Kasi defense is not just yun defense na kapag merong invasion or merong war. Pwede din relief operations in times of emergencies (Because defense is not just defense when there’s an invasion, or when there’s a war. There can be relief operations in times of emergencies),” the official added.

The Vice President will leave The Hague on July 23, and attend a “Free Duterte Rally” in South Korea on July 27.

Related Tags

EDCA sites VP Sara Duterte DISASTER RESPONSE RELIEF OPERATIONS
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