Aquino may be impeached over Edca–Santiago

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago. JOSEPH VIDAL / PRIB

MANILA, Philippines–Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Thursday warned that President Benigno Aquino III may be impeached for agreeing to the provisions stipulated under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca).

“The president, by agreeing to Edca can be held accountable for impeachable offenses. These are culpable violations of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, for allowing a foreign government to maintain military bases without Senate concurrence,” Santiago said.

The Senate will hold a public hearing on December 1 to determine whether the legislative body would concur with Edca, Santiago said.

She said conducting the hearing was justified even as a case challenging the constitutionality of Edca was pending before the Supreme Court.

“Under the Senate rules, no proceeding before any government agency can inhibit the Senate from conducting its own proceedings,” Santiago said.

Santiago has been vocal in criticizing some provisions of Edca as unconstitutional.

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