Legarda: Setting up US base in Ph needs Congress approval

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Loren Legarda reiterated on Monday that it will take congressional approval before any foreign military can set up bases in the country.

Legarda, chairperson of the Senate committee on foreign relations, noted that the “Constitution sets the requirements for the return of foreign military bases to our territory.”

She said that the President has the say whether the country will allow the US or any other country to set up bases here in view of the threat by North Korea.

“Congress shall have to do its duty to provide the check and balance when the time comes that the President, as chief architect of our policy, will see more military presence as necessary for the safety of our people and the entire region,” Legarda added.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin declared last week that the United States may set up bases here temporarily in case of emergency.

Under the Constitution, foreign troops are barred from establishing a permanent presence in the country, a law that forced the shutdown of Clark Air Base in Pampanga and Subic Naval Base in Zambales – formerly the biggest military facilities outside the US.

“Right now our Constitution does not allow that but in cases of extreme emergency then there are extreme measures to be undertaken. Maybe this is one of them,” Gazmin said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Ralph Recto is supportive of calls to allow the United States to temporarily put up a military base in the country in view of the tension between North and South Korea.

Recto said that as an ally nation, the Philippines should be ready to help the United States once North Korea attacks South Korea or any of its ally countries.

The Philippines should not be alarmed, he said, noting that Philippines is geographically farther from Seoul than Japan or Guam.

But Recto said the US and Philippines would practice reciprocity under the Mutual Defense Treaty once any of them are attacked.

According to the senator, the government’s first priority should focus on the contingency plans and evacuation efforts for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

“Saving lives should be our priority,” he said.

The Philippines cannot isolate itself from the tension between the North and South Korea because many Filipinos working in Seoul while there are businesses will be affected. “We are part of a regional supply chain,” he noted.