Cagayan gov opposes EDCA sites, fears conflict

Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba is urging residents to oppose the establishment of Enhanced Defense Cooperative Agreement (EDCA) sites in the province, expressing fears that Cagayan could become a target in a potential China-Taiwan conflict.

Mamba specifically called out Department of National Defense (DND) Officer in Charge Senior Undersecretary Carlito Galvez Jr., accusing him of lying about the governor's supposed agreement to the EDCA sites.

Galvez had stated that Mamba agreed to the prepositioning of US military forces in Cagayan as long as the national government decided on it.

However, Mamba asserted that his opposition remains and that Galvez's claims are false, even expressing concern that such misinformation might be reaching the President.

Galvez refuted Mamba's allegations, urging the governor not to doubt the President's decision-making on foreign policy and assuring that national security inputs are based on strategic assessments.

Two of the four proposed EDCA sites are located in Cagayan: the Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana and Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo.

Mamba believes the EDCA sites are a provocation and a danger, not for humanitarian assistance or disaster response as claimed by Galvez, but to allow the US to monitor China's activities and potentially provoke a conflict.

He fears that an attack on US forces could trigger the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the US, leading to Filipinos dying for American interests.