Bayan opposes in no uncertain terms the upcoming visit of US Secretary of Defense Llyod Austin and his meeting with Philippine defense officials. The visit coincides with plans to implement the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) in the Philippines with 5 agreed locations being readied. We view this as the return of US bases in our country, a means to allow the indefinite stationing of US troops in the Philippines. This is a throwback to the Cold War era where countries like the Philippines were used for US wars of aggression in Asia. It is a gross violation of our sovereignty.
The US intends to build the military facilities in Cesar Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga; Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation in Nueva Ecija; Lumbia Airfield in Cagayan De Oro; Antonio Bautista Airbase in Puerto Princesa, Palawan; and Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu.
Under the EDCA, US forces will be allowed to put up and operate military facilities inside Philippine facilities. They are also allowed to preposition and deploy weapons and other military equipment. The US forces can operate these facilities for free under Article III, Sec.3 which states that “US forces shall have access to “agreed locations” “without rental or similar costs”. The use by US troops of utilities such as water and electricity are also tax-exempt under under Article VII, Sec. 1. The US will also be allowed to use radio frequencies free of charge.
We do not need EDCA and these new US bases. US military presence will not deter China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea. This new agreement, like all previous defense agreements with the US, will not lead to the modernization of the AFP as there is nothing in the pact which says there will be transfer of equipment from the US to the Philippines.
What is even more problematic is that it is the Filipino people who will be holding the shorter end of the stick because the US military will not be paying any rent and will be tax-exempt. In a time of great economic crisis and rising public debt, why are we giving these perks to the US? Why are Filipino taxpayers footing the bill for US intervention in the region?
The revival of US bases in the Philippines raises tensions in the region and will escalate the rivalry between the US and China. What we should be doing is to demilitarize the West Philippine Sea and prevent an arms race in the region. What the US and Philippine governments are doing is the opposite. This will be detrimental to our national interests in the long run.
We call on all Filipinos to reject US military presence in our country and to never forget the abuses our people suffered with the US bases and the Visiting Forces Agreement. ###
0 Comments