Lacierda: We are prepared to defend EDCA

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang is ready to defend the legality of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) before the Supreme Court as labor groups filed another petition challenging the Philippines’ security deal with the United States (US).

“The position taken by this government is we believe that it is constitutional so, we are prepared to defend the EDCA before the Supreme Court,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a radio interview on Saturday.

Lacierda said anyone is free to raise their issues before the court.

The Philippines and the US signed the EDCA last April in a move widely seen as an effort to counter China’s aggressive expansion in the region. Officials claim that the 10-year deal will help upgrade the Philippine military, one of the weakest in the region. 

The agreement will allow the US to build temporary facilities and to store equipment in Philippine military bases. Officials are now determining what bases will be covered by the agreement, which was negotiated for eight months.

Earlier, the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement (Courage) called for the scrapping of EDCA, saying it violated constitutional provisions on national sovereignty, territorial integrity and interests, freedom from nuclear weapons and autonomy of local government units.

“EDCA means the massive deployment of US military troops and weaponry into the country unprecedented since World War II. All freedom- and nation-loving Filipinos should stand up against it. We should not allow the US or any foreign power to re-occupy the Philippines,” the petitioners said.

KMU and Courage asked the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order on the implementation of the deal, which was signed amid the tensions triggered by the West Philippine Sea dispute.

The labor groups’ petition was the third legal challenge confronting the security agreement.

The first petition was filed by former Senators Rene Saguisag and Wigberto Tañada, two of the twelve lawmakers who favored the shutdown of US bases in the Philippines in 1991.

Backing their petition were former University of the Philippines (UP) President Francisco Nemenzo Jr., former UP College of Law Dean Pacifico Agabin, Sr. Mary John Mananzan, Steve Salonga the son of former Senate President Jovito Salonga, lawyers Harry Roque, Evalyn Ursua and Edre Olalia, Carol Pagaduan-Araullo and Roland Simbulan, and former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño.

The petitioners claimed that EDCA has no legal basis because the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the US has been superseded by the 1987 Constitution, which renounces war as a national policy.

The second petition was filed by lawmakers who belong to the Makabayan bloc of the House of Representatives and leaders of different groups.

The petitioners argue that EDCA would only benefit the US and could lead to “a derogation of our country’s dignity and an unconscionable sellout of our sovereignty.” 

The lawmakers who filed the second petition were Bayan Muna party-list Reps. Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate, Gabriela party-list Reps. Luzviminda Ilagan and Emi de Jesus, Alliance of Concerned Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap, and Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon.

Joining the in the petition were National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera, activist Renato Constantino Jr, film and television director Joel Lamangan, former lawmakers Satur Ocampo, Liza Maza and Rafael Mariano, Kilusang Mayo Uno secretary-general Roger Soluta, Salvador France of Pamalakaya, Clemente Bautista of the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment.