Law expert: PH should avoid siding with superpowers

The Supreme Court. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippines should avoid siding with any superpowers to prevent itself for being embroiled in conflict of two super power countries, University of the Philippines former UP Law Dean Pacifico Agabin told the Supreme Court during Tuesday’s oral argument  on the legality of the Enhanced  Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

“We should avoid siding with any superpowers,” Agabin said. He added that while there is slim chance that China will wage war with the US in the near future, he said it is best that an “ant” should not meddle with the “fight between two elephants to avoid being trampled upon.”

Petitioners insisted that despite the agreement, the Philippines has no assurance that the US will come to the country’s aide in case of conflict.

“We do not know if they (US) will actually do it[coming to the Philippines’ aide in case of conflict. We can invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty but we do not know if the Americans will actually do it (come to the Philippines’ aide),” lawyer Harry Roque said.

Roque said, if he can, he will advise the President to do everything except the Philippines’ alliance with the US.

“If China proves to be a regional threat, it will be more beneficial to seek alliance with the countries closer to us than with the US,” he added.