Use of EDCA sites for disaster response criticized

A CONGRESSMAN on Wednesday accused the Philippine military of using disaster response efforts as a pretext to expand the presence of US forces through joint bases in the country.

In a statement, Party-list Rep. Antonio L. Tinio said the military could possibly leverage the outfall of the torrential rains brought by Severe Tropical Storm Wipha (Crising) and southwest monsoon to justify expanding joint Philippine-US bases, warning the move could make the country a bigger strategic target amid rising tensions with China.

The Defense department and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) did not immediately reply to separate Viber messages seeking comment.

“The AFP sees no shame in using a disaster to persuade the public to accept the continued presence of foreign military bases,” Mr. Tinio said in Filipino.

Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. on Tuesday said the Philippine military activated the joint military sites to serve as relief hubs to support humanitarian operations amid heavy rains that battered the country earlier this week.

Manila hosts US troops at select military bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), a pact that permits Washington to rotate forces throughout the country.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. in 2023 gave the US access to four more military bases under the EDCA, on top of the five sites that US troops already had access to since 2016. Most of the joint Philippine-US bases are in the northern Philippines.

“EDCA sites are not neutral evacuation centers; they are forward-operating bases,” said Mr. Tinio “Every relief airlift doubles as a live drill for rapid weapons deployment. The floods merely provide the perfect pretext.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio