SC asked to reverse EDCA ruling

MANILA, Philippines — Bayan Muna party-list and former Sen. Renato Saguisag on Wednesday filed separate motions for reconsideration before the Supreme Court (SC) on its decision on the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

The high court earlier ruled that the agreement between the Philippines and the United States is constitutional.

READ: SC upholds constitutionality of EDCA

Bayan Muna argued that the EDCA is not an agreement that merely implements earlier treaties signed between the two countries, such as the Mutual Defense Treaty and the Visiting Forces Agreement.

The militant group stressed that the agreement has provisions that are not covered by the previous treaties.

The group pointed out that the power of the president to enter into international agreements involving foreign military presence is limited.

Saguisag, meanwhile, argued that the treatment of the US with the Philippines was not good and that it caused the death of thousands of Filipinos.

Four justices of the SC voted not to uphold the constitutionality of the EDCA, claiming that the Philippines might lose its sovereignty due to the agreement.

Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Arturo Brion, Estela Perlas-Bernabe and Marvic Leonen argued that the EDCA needs Senate concurrence.

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