Teodoro: Natl security concern in EDCA sites, not Taiwan

THE national security of the Philippines is the paramount concern in putting up additional military sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), not because of the country's proximity to Taiwan, Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. said.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. Contributed Photo

“What if [the country's] proximity to Taiwan is a geographical accident and other people are paranoid about it, it's their problem,” Teodoro said in an interview Thursday afternoon at Lal-lo International Airport in the province of Cagayan where one of the new EDCA sites is located. “For me, my concern is the Philippine national interest and national security and we will have to put bases, not necessarily EDCA, throughout our archipelago.”

The EDCA is an agreement between the United States and the Philippines intended to bolster their alliance. It allows the US to rotate troops into the Philippines for extended stays and allows the US to build and operate facilities on Philippine bases for both American and Philippine forces.

On March 2016, the Philippines and the US agreed on 5 locations of military bases for the American troops under the EDCA. They are Antonio Bautista Air Base (Palawan), Basa Air Base (Pampanga), Benito Ebuen Air Base (Cebu), Fort Magsaysay (Nueva Ecija) and Lumbia Airport (Cagayan de Oro)

Last April, the Philippine government announced the locations of the four additional EDCA sites considered as “suitable and mutually beneficial” for both the Philippines and the United States of America. These are Balabac Island (Palawan), Camp Melchor Dela Cruz (Gamu, Isabela), Lal-lo Airport (Lal-lo, Cagayan) and Naval Base Camilo Osias (Santa Ana, Cagayan).

Teodoro said the Philippine government is “pursuing an archipelagic doctrine with baselines” and part of it is establishing additional EDCA sites.

“The paranoia of other people may be rightly so, is taken into consideration but national security is paramount,” he said

Teodoro stressed that the government has reassured other countries that the Philippines is not allowed by the Constitution to wage war or any offensive action as an instrument of national policy.

“Now if they do not take our word for it, then how can we trust each other?” said Teodoro.

“Actions speak louder than words and for me, my action is in what is in the best interest of our country,” he added.

Teodoro said EDCA is not only for logistical support on the US side but it is capability upgrade on the Philippine side and this is what he is making sure of.