Aquino honors EDCA mediators on eve of SC orals

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III awarded the Philippine Legion of Honor to two members of the Philippine panel that negotiated the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) on the eve of the Supreme Court oral arguments on the new military-to-military agreement between the Philippines and the US.

The chief of the panel, Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino, was awarded the Legion of Honor with the degree of officer. Panel member Defense Assistant Secretary Raymund Quilop was awarded the Legion of Honor with the degree of Legionnaire. 

The Philippine Legion of Honor is awarded to Filipino and foreign citizens for their meritorious service in the military and defense affairs or for exceptional performance of their duties. It is also the highest award the President can bestow without congressional approval.

The Supreme Court will hold on Tuesday afternoon, November 18, oral arguments on the deal signed in April.

EDCA is an executive agreement that expands US military in the Philippines by allowing them to construct facilities and preposition defense assets in “agreed locations” that are yet to be identified. 

Petitioners against EDCA wanted the High Court to nullify the agreement as unconstitutional. They argued that EDCA should not be a mere executive agreement to be signed by the defense secretary but should be a treaty that needs the concurrence of the Senate. Petitioners also argued that EDCA is lopsided in favor of the US. (READ: Declare EDCA unconstitutional, SC asked and EDCA deprives state of tax powers)

The Office of the Solicitor General argued that EDCA is an executive agreement, an exercise of presidential power to protect the state. The Aquino government said EDCA is meant to achieve “minimum credible defense posture” in the wake of China’s aggressiveness in the West Philippine Sea. 

The Office of the Solicitor General also said that the case cannot be decided without considering the events in the West Philippines Sea. (READ: SolGen to SC: EDCA needed to defend West PH Sea) – Rappler.com