Bello hits Aquino admin over EDCA ‘deception’

Paterno R. Esmaquel II

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Bello hits Aquino admin over EDCA ‘deception’
In Rappler’s ‘The Leader I Want’ debate, senatorial candidate Walden Bello says EDCA merely makes the Philippines a ‘military base’ of the US

MANILA, Philippines – Senatorial candidate Walden Bello criticized the Aquino administration on Friday, April 15, over the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) that gives United States troops greater access to Philippine military facilities.

“There was a deception in terms of the way the administration sold EDCA to us,” Bello said in the second #TheLeaderIWant senatorial debate organized by Rappler.

Bello, former congressional representative of the political party Akbayan, said EDCA merely makes the Philippines “a military base” of the US.

He also pointed out that the US, in return, has given the Philippines only second- and 3rd-hand weapons.

The Philippines and the US signed the EDCA as China had become more aggressive in claiming the entire West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). 

The Philippines, on the other hand, has filed a historic case against China over the West Philippine Sea, which is pending before an arbitral tribunal in The Hague.

To respond to a rising China, Bello said the Philippines instead should pursue its case in The Hague and use good diplomacy. 

“Let us beef up our naval defenses,” he added, as he also pushed for an independent foreign policy.

Rebutting Bello, administration senatorial candidate Leila de Lima pointed out that an independent foreign policy must be beefed up by a minimum credible defense.

De Lima: ‘Kukutyain po tayo’

Without this minimum credible defense, De Lima said, “Kukutyain at kukutyain po tayo ng ating katunggali sa West Philippine Sea.” (Our opponent in the West Philippine Sea will just mock us.)

De Lima, the Philippines’ former justice chief, added that the Philippines should honor treaties it entered into, apparently referring to EDCA.

A known activist, Bello has long opposed the EDCA as well as the Philippines’  earlier Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US. 

Bello and Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, for instance, filed a joint resolution in October 2014 to terminate the VFA.

For one, he says the US will not defend the Philippines against China if conflict escalates over the West Philippine Sea. (READ: The Leader I Want: Walden Bello’s to-fix list for 2016)

He is counting more on the Philippines’ Southeast Asian neighbors as allies. – Rappler.com

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Paterno R. Esmaquel II

Paterno R. Esmaquel II, news editor of Rappler, specializes in covering religion and foreign affairs. He finished MA Journalism in Ateneo and MSc Asian Studies (Religions in Plural Societies) at RSIS, Singapore. For story ideas or feedback, email pat.esmaquel@rappler.com