LAWMAKERS said Wednesday the Supreme Court’s final ruling affirming the constitutionality of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement will be an opportune time for the government to fully modernize the country’s military hardware.
At the same time, former speaker and Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the ruling was expected, stressing that Edca from the very beginning fell under the ambit of the Constitution.
“As I said before, the agreement does not violate the Constitution,” Belmonte said.
“There are no constitutional infirmities in that agreement. The ruling is commendable because this will help the country establish a maritime defense.”
Belmonte made his statement even as United States Secretary of State John Kerry committed $32 million for law-enforcement training and services during his courtesy visit to President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday.
“The US committed $32 million in training and services … basically, it will come in the form of training and stuff [for law enforcement],” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella told reporters.
Kerry, the highest member of the Cabinet of President Barack Obama to visit Duterte so far, has “affirmed the longstanding relationship” between the US and the Philippines and discussed the maritime security in the region, including the common concerns of the US and the Philippines: “terrorism, crime, drugs, religious fanaticism and maritime security.”
The high court’s final decision came after The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration decided in favor of the Philippines in its maritime dispute with China, stressing that China’s historic nine-dash line had no historic and legal basis and that the West Philippine Sea fell within the country’s exclusive economic zone.
House Deputy Speaker and Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu and Bulacan Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado said the high court ruling should be used by the Philippine government to appeal to the United States to extend further assistance to the country in modernizing its Armed Forces. Maricel V. Cruz and John Paolo Bencito
“Edca should help us modernize our military hardware,” Abu aid.
The government should secure full support from the US government to uplift the capability not only of our AFP personnel but also its armament.
“The US should also show generosity by providing us surveillance and fighter aircrafts, tanks, warships, patrol boats and training.”
Sy-Alvarado said the high court ruling “will help us secure the sovereignty and integrity of the country’s national territory. This will provide us a credible maritime defense.”
Anakpawis party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao said he was dismayed over the recent unanimous vote of the high court upholding the legality of the Edca.
“Anakpawis reiterates its position that legalizing Edca is an affront to our sovereignty and independence as a nation,” Casilao said. “Affirming the legality in a highly questionable and one-sided military agreement is definitely a betrayal of the interest of the Filipino people.” aggressive acts in the West Philippine Sea.