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Marcos misinformed or misleading in saying EDCA sites won't be used for offensive—Castro
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured China that the Philippines' bases, accessible to the US under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), will not be used for offensive actions.
However, House Deputy Minority leader France Castro stated that Marcos Jr. is either misinformed or misleading the public regarding the EDCA.
Castro cited Article 4 of the EDCA, which states that US "prepositioned materiel" will be for the exclusive use of US forces and that they have control over its access and disposition.
She further noted that the EDCA does not prohibit the use of these prepositioned armaments in military operations, either covert or overt, within or outside the Philippines.
Marcos Jr. had previously stated that the EDCA sites are intended to strengthen the country's defense capabilities and reiterated that the Philippines would not allow its bases to be used to attack China.
These statements come in response to China's concerns that the expansion of EDCA sites could escalate regional tensions.
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The Philippine government has designated four new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites: Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.
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The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites can be used by the Philippines and the United States for "emergency situations" beyond disaster relief, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
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The Department of National Defense (DND) clarified that the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the United States does not constitute a gross violation of Philippine sovereignty.
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A Chinese think-tank expert believes the new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the Philippines are intended to counter China's operations near Taiwan.
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Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas argued that taxpayer money allocated for the four new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites with the US should instead be used for social services.
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