US handang depensahan ang Pinas, Obama kumpiyansang lulusot ang EDCA sa SC

MANILA, Philippines – Tiniyak ni United States President Barack Obama ngayong Myerkules na handa nilang tulungan at depensahan ang isa sa mga matagal na nilang kaalyado, ang Pilipinas.

Sinabi ni Obama matapos ang kanilang bilateral meeting ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino III na tutulungan nila ang Pilipinas dahil sa matagal nang Mutual Defense Treaty at ang Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

"The broader point is that, as a treaty ally, we have a rock solid commitment to the defense of the Philippines," pahayag ni Obama sa kanilang press conference ni Aquino sa Sofitel sa Maynila.

"And part of our goal is to continue to help our treaty partners build up capacity, to make sure that the architecture of both defense work, but also humanitarian work, and other important activities in the region are coordinated more effectively, and we think that the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement is going to help us do that," dagdag niya.

Samantala, naniniwala si Obama na lulusot sa Korte Suprema ang EDCA na nilagdaan noong state visit niya sa bansa noong Mayo 2014.

Kinukuwestiyon ang EDCA sa mataas na hukuman dahil sa umano’y hindi ito naaayon sa Saligang Batas.

Iginiit naman ni Aquino na mapapaigting ng Pilipinas ang kanilang depensa sa nilagdaang EDCA na magbubukas ng pintuan para sa US military na makapamalagi sa bansa.

"In the Philippines' part, we will have access to the most modern technology that will bring us into higher capabilities, and that is why we welcome now with very open arms this agreement pending before our Supreme Court," wika ni Aquino.

"America gets the use of our bases to be able to have more stability in its ability to project its own power within the region in an effort to help in the stability and the orderliness and the diffusion of the tension with the region," dagdag niya.

Napag-usapan ng dalawnag pangulo ang agawan ng teritoryo sa South China sea at sinabi ni Obama na suportado nila ang arbitration case ng Pilipinas kontra China.

"We fully support a process in which through international law and international norms these issues are resolved. And we look forward to working with all parties to move disputes through these channels," banggit ng US President.

"President Obama and I likewise had a discussion on maritime security, including on the maritime disputes in the region, and how international law should remain the framework for behavior of all countries and for the peaceful resolution of disputes," ani naman ni Aquino.