EDCA positives should be highlighted, US exec says

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines- - A US military commander said there is a need  to highlight the  advantages of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Col. Robert McDowell, former commander of the US Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P), said it is important for the US to continue to respect the sovereignty of the Philippines and the partnership of the two allied countries.

“What we need to continue to do is talk about the positive things. Talk about why the relationship is so important. Talk about how it will benefit the people and not about the US,” McDowell said Monday on the sidelines of a change of command ceremony on the leadership of the JSOTF-P .

McDowell, who ended his tour of duty, was replaced by Col. Erik Brown as new commander of the JSOTF-P during a ceremony attended by US Ambassador Philip Goldberg and Rear Admiral Philip Gardner Howe III , commander of the Special Operations Command of the US Pacific Command (PACOM), at the grandstand of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).

McDowell said the people should talk about the shared partnership, goals and shared vision under the EDCA.

“The US is very much concerned about doing what we can to help the Filipino people and to create a stronger credible defense inside the Philippines,” McDowell said.

Goldberg did not comment on the EDCA.

Meanwhile, the city government also thanked  McDowell  for leading the JSOTF-P in assisting the Philippine forces in quelling the siege staged by the insurgents of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) under Nur Misuari in September 2013 in this city.

McDowell, however, credited the Philippine forces capability despite limited resources in achieving its mission as far as assisting the people hit by the disaster in the Visayas region and providing security during the siege in this city.

“I think what they did in Zamboanga was more phenomenal than what most US troops could have done with just little help. They performed brilliantly,” said McDowell.

He said while the Philippine military still needs resources, the AFP personnel as  "leaders and warriors"  "are ready."

"And we’ve seen that improved greatly over the years,” he said.

As the new US military commander, Brown said he will to continue to  bring the US-Philippine partnership and security program to the next level.

“We need to continue to work with our partners to advance the security in the Philippines,” Brown said. - Roel Pareño