Two disturbing developments recently took place but unfortunately gained little media traction.
First is the seizure of 100 kilos of radioactive depleted uranium. The state-run Philippine News Agency on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, reported an entrapment operation in Pasay City in October resulting in the recovery of 20 kilograms of metal bars and three kilograms of black powder, which all tested positive for uranium.
Days earlier, another three kilograms of black powder, rock material, small metal materials and other contaminated items which, again, all tested positive for uranium, were seized in Cagayan de Oro City.
Then another operation, this time in Mandaue City in Cebu, recovered about 60 kilograms of black metal, which again tested positive for uranium.
Where did all of these come from? I can only surmise and that is, it is connected with the presence of American forces in the Philippines.
To recall, former president Rodrigo Duterte said in an interview in “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa” last June 26, 2023, that the US military could bring nuclear weapons to the locations identified under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
The former president added that “it would be stupid for us or so naïve to think that there is none.”
The original five EDCA sites include Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro (where the radioactive materials were seized), Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan and Mactan-Benito Abuen Air Base in Cebu (where the radioactive materials were seized).
Other EDCA sites were added, which include Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor de la Cruz in Gamu, Isabela and Balabac Island in Palawan.
It is clear in our 1987 Philippine Constitution Article II, Section 8 that “the Philippines, consistent with the national interest, adopts and pursues a policy of freedom from nuclear weapons in its territory.”
In addition, the Philippine Senate ratified the Treaty of the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, in 2021, which PRRD called a “milestone,” underscoring that the Philippines is “faithful to the policy of freedom from nuclear weapons in our territory as enshrined in the 1987 Constitution.”
That is why we are correct in consistently assailing EDCA. Ten years ago, I, together with Atty. Romel Bagares, representing The Center for International Law, filed a petition to the Supreme Court to declare EDCA unconstitutional.
In our petition, one of the items we mentioned was that EDCA will allow the US government “to build structures, store as well as preposition weapons, defense supplies and materiel…”
These weapons, defense supplies and materiel, as we all know, are not subject to inspection by Filipino authorities.
Our fears have, therefore, become a reality.
In a related development, a Russian attack submarine UFA 590 was spotted some 80 nautical miles west off Cape Calavite, Occidental Mindoro last Nov. 28.
This is the first time, according to the Philippine Navy, that a Russian submarine was detected in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
It is worth mentioning that under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, submarines or ships have the right of passage when transiting the EEZ.
The presence of the Russian submarine, to use the words of PBBM, is “very worrisome.”
Indeed, it is worrisome.
Last April, the US Army deployed the Typhon missile system in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, as part of joint combat exercises with our Filipino troops.
The Typhon, according to Defense News, is a land-based weapon that can fire the Standard Missile-6 and the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile.
Tomahawk missiles, Defense News added, can travel over 1,000 miles, placing China within their target range.
The presence of the missile launcher Typhon in the Philippines is considered the first deployment in the Indo-Pacific region.
Typhon’s deployment in the Philippines likewise marks the first time a mid-range missile system has been positioned since the 2019 dissolution of the Intermediate Range nuclear Forces Treaty.
The above-mentioned treaty barred the United States and Russia from developing or deploying any conventional or nuclear weapons with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometers.
While the joint combat exercises have already concluded, the Typhon has remained in the Philippines.
No plans to pull it out yet, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said, as quoted by Reuters.
Do you think there is a link between the sighting of the Russian submarine and the deployment of the US Typhon?
Just connect the dots.
Having said this, I remember former president Duterte’s first speech before the United Nations General Assembly in September 2020, which remains true to this day.
“Escalating tensions benefits no one. New flashpoints heighten fears and tend to tear peoples apart. When elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled first.”
Thus, it concerns me when the current President has been treating China as an enemy.
The Philippines, I reiterate, must never fall into a proxy war trap by any war-mongering hegemon. Likewise, our government should never permit a foreign state to use our territory, either through a military agreement or unholy alliance, in attacking another country.
Even as a third-party participant in a war, the Philippine stands to risk the lives and well-being of countless Filipinos.
Marcos Jr. should have his ears on the ground: a majority of Filipinos have spoken and they are pro-peace and anti-war.
Our people have embraced a Philippine policy that advocates peace and cooperation that is enshrined in our Constitution.
Who would want to see their countrymen killed or maimed in a war that has nothing to do with us? Who would want our economy to collapse?
Only a leader not in his right mind would want to see our beloved Philippines caught in the crossfire between two rampaging juggernauts.