New Phl-US defense pact one-sided - foreign law expert

MANILA, Philippines - The new defense agreement signed between the US and Philippines is a one-sided deal and it only favors the American military, an international law expert said Tuesday.

Lawyer Harry Roque Jr. also expressed dismay over the signing of the 10-year Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) allowing the increased presence of American troops to local military bases.

Roque said that the Aquino administration has failed to advance Philippines' national interest when it agrees to an increased rotational presence of US troops in the country.

"This is again a one sided agreement where the Philippines allowed itself to be attacked by an enemy of the US in case the latter figures in an armed conflict with a third state. This conflict, will however, not be because of the Spratly’s because the US does not believe we have title to the disputed area. The American had their cake and ate it too,"  Roque said.

He noted that the US government has made it clear that it would not drag itself into the maritime dispute between the Philippines and China.

"So why did we give them further access to our territory in the first place?" Roque asked.

He said that the Mutual Defense Pact of 1951 stipulates that the US will come to the assistance of the Philippines if its territory is attacked by a third state.

Roque noted that the the US though does not recognize the Philippine title to the Spratly’s and Panatag, insisting that its interest in the disputed area is only to maintain freedom of navigation.