EDCA, a boon or a bane?

EDITORIAL

             “Leftist” groups are now questioning the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) of the Philippines and the US saying this is unconstitutional even as the conflict between China and the Philippines worsened over territorial claims in China Sea or West Philippine Sea. 

           In Baguio, the Tongtongan Ti Umili- Cordillera Peoples’ Alliance expressed its support to Bayan, Makabayan congressmen and progressive organizations who rallied to the Supreme Court in Manila and filed a petition declaring the EDCA is a direct threat to the sovereignty of the country and its people by containing numerous provisions that prohibits the government ofUS to build US bases and dictate everything they need at the expense of
the Filipino people. 

“In essence,  the EDCA is even worse than the Visiting Forces  Agreement and the US-Phils Mutual Defense Treaty because the Aquino government has signed this agreement containing very loose and
alterable provisions that the US and Aquino government can easily manipulate according to their needs,” a TTU statement said.

“The building of US bases and the presence of US troops in the country will never be an assurance that the US government will aid the Philippines in the issue of China’s claim over Spratly’s, especially nowhere in the EDCA was there a mention on this issue” said Perry John Mendoza,chairperson of Tongtongan Ti Umili.

The groups said EDCA and building of US bases in the country will further heighten the human rights violations, especially with the communities in the country-side who are experiencing the injustices of
Oplan Bayanihan.

“We can only expect that more community leaders and members in the country will face threats, harassments and violations once US troops have settled in the Philippines. We firmly reject the EDCA and urge the Supreme Court to declare this as unconstitutional. Failure to heed the people’s clamor will otherwise prove that the government is more concerned in strengthening its ties with US and not on protecting the rights of its people.”

This as recent surveys bared many Filipinos would like the US bases to return to the country in the face of China’s growing assertiveness in claiming territories near the Philippine mainland.

The Supreme Court could settle the issue by ruling on it earlier.