Makabayan bloc wants House to probe defense cooperation agreement

Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The Makabayan bloc wants the House of Representatives to investigate the latest agreement increasing the presence of American troops in the country, saying the deal would make the Philippines the largest US military base in Asia.

Bayan Muna representatives Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate, and ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio filed House Resolution 1070, which seeks the inquiry of the House committee on national defense and security, in aid of legislation, on the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and US.

The agreement was signed as the Philippines aims to boost its defense capabilities with the help of the US in the midst of territorial disputes with China, on one hand, and as the US increases its presence in the region, on the other.

According to the resolution, the agreement is worse than the bases treaty between the country and the US before the Senate voted to boot out the US camps in 1991.

This is because the EDCA “ushers the return of US military bases without a treaty, without rent and without limits,” the resolution read.

The agreement would also make the country a big US military base, it added.

The resolution also expressed the congressmen’s doubt that the US would go to war for the Philippines against China because the latter is the US’ biggest creditor and bond investor.

“The US is merely using the regional dispute in the South China sea to promote not our interest but its own,” the resolution read, citing the US’ interest to re-establish military bases, promote its war industry, exploit cheap labor, among others.

The agreement would also make the Philippines vulnerable to attacks from US’ rival countries, the resolution said.

The solons added that the agreement is unconstitutional as it allegedly aims to establish US bases despite a constitutional ban.

“By the stroke of a pen… the Aquino government cedes all of Philippine sovereignty to the US and makes us second class citizens in our own country. This agreement is very unequal and is extremely disadvantageous on Filipino interest,” the resolution read.

The militant lawmakers had expressed their interest to file a case to the international court against US and the Aquino government for “crimes against humanity” due to the agreement.

Among the key provisions in the agreement are:

• US would “not establish military presence or base in the Philippines
• US access to and use of designated areas in AFP owned and controlled facilities (“Agreed Locations”) will be at the invitation of the Philippine government
• Prior consent of the Philippines, through the MDT and Security Engagement Board, with regard to US access and use of Agreed Locations which may be listed in an annex and further described in implementing arrangements
• Philippine retention of primary responsibility for security of the Agreed Locations
• Access of the AFP base commander to the entire area of the Agreed Locations;
• Philippine ownership of buildings and infrastructure once constructed by US military;
• Sharing and joint use of facilities in the Agreed Locations, including those of used by US military;
• Prohibition of entry to the Philippines of nuclear weapons and reference to respective obligations of both Parties under the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Convention

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