MANILA: Former Senator Joker Arroyo yesterday questioned the constitutionality of the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) that the Philippines and the United States signed on Monday, hours before US President Barrack Obama visited the country.
“What did the Philippines get out of the Obama visit? Zero. Analyse it,” Arroyo said. Arroyo also criticiced Malacanang for leaving the Philippine Senate in the dark over the new agreement.
“We rushed to sign the EDCA as a gift to President Obama, signed by our Defence Secretary and the US ambassador, that would allow more American troops in the Philippines,” he said.
“No one, but no one was consulted about its constitutionality or participated in its preparation. It was exclusively Malacañang-directed,” said Arroyo, who was among the senators who voted for closing down US bases in Olongapo, Zambales in 1992.
Rather than mere rhetoric, Arroyo said he was expecting the US government to warn China that it will back the Philippines should Chinese troops harass local fishermen and troops stationed in the disputed South China Sea.
“What did we get in exchange? Heaping shibboleths on America’s ‘longest ally,’ President Obama also praised the culinary skills of the White House Filipino Executive Chef.” “It was hoped that he would say, at least, that in case Filipino fishermen and Navy supplies go to the disputed islands and the China Maritime Fleet fires at or harasses them, America will strongly caution China so that we don’t get embroiled in a shooting war,” he added.
Arroyo also called on the Defence Department and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to look into the 1914 War Plan Orange No. III prepared by the US War Department.
The 1914 War Plan, according to Arroyo, outlined America’s defence of the Philippines in case the latter is invaded. It was unearthed in the research of the Civil Liberties Union (Jose Diokno, Lorenzo Tañada, JBL Reyes, Calixto Zaldivar and J Antonio Araneta, officers), which opposed extension of lease for US bases, which was to expire in 1977, during the martial law years.
Arroyo also recalled how the Philippines had become a buffer zone for US troops when Japanese troops invaded the country during World War II.
“True enough, when the Japanese invaded the Philippines after Pearl Harbor, the US followed exactly the strategy as outlined by the US War Department,” the former senator said.
The Philippine Star
