Protesters denounce EDCA sites in Cagayan
>> Thursday, December 7, 2023
TUGUEGARAO CITY -- About 100 flag-waving protesters and supporters staged a lightning rally in front of Rizal Freedom Park here Nov. 8, denouncing the presence of two Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in Cagayan.
"Peace, No to War, no to EDCA," the rallyists said in their placards, posters and flags they displayed during the demonstration in an utter show of their disapproval of the two EDCA sites.
The rallyists believed the inclusion of Cagayan as an EDCA site is putting the province at risk of a possible war with China.
Later, about 300 villagers who went to the protest rally site were given a kilo of rice as assistance.
Mateo Dicen, spokesman for the People for Peace and Development (P4PD), said the new sites here in Cagayan will put the province at a disadvantageous position and make the province a target of "China's possible nuclear attacks or war."
Macaria Mendoza, a 60-year-old supporter, told the Manila Times that they strongly oppose the addition of EDCA sites by the United States in the country.
The EDCA sites are at the Lal-lo International Airport in Lal-lo town and the Camp Camilo Osias Naval command base in Santa Ana town.
The Philippine government earlier signed a pact with the United States for the EDCA, which 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.
"Peace, No to War, no to EDCA," the rallyists said in their placards, posters and flags they displayed during the demonstration in an utter show of their disapproval of the two EDCA sites.
The rallyists believed the inclusion of Cagayan as an EDCA site is putting the province at risk of a possible war with China.
Later, about 300 villagers who went to the protest rally site were given a kilo of rice as assistance.
Mateo Dicen, spokesman for the People for Peace and Development (P4PD), said the new sites here in Cagayan will put the province at a disadvantageous position and make the province a target of "China's possible nuclear attacks or war."
Macaria Mendoza, a 60-year-old supporter, told the Manila Times that they strongly oppose the addition of EDCA sites by the United States in the country.
The EDCA sites are at the Lal-lo International Airport in Lal-lo town and the Camp Camilo Osias Naval command base in Santa Ana town.
The Philippine government earlier signed a pact with the United States for the EDCA, which 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.
Aside from the two Cagayan sites, also added on February 2 this year were Balabac Island in Palawan and Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela.
Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba earlier condemned the inclusion of the province, adding that they had not been consulted on the sites.
He said he did not want the province to become a potential target of a Chinese nuclear attack.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. allayed fears in his inspections at the EDCA sites.
He said this would help villagers through infrastructure enhancement and repair projects, developing new infrastructure projects at existing EDCA locations and exploring new locations that will build a more credible mutual defense.
In 2016, five EDCA sites were established at Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, and Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro.
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