Noy confident EDCA will stand legal scrutiny

NAYPYIDAW — President Aquino is confident the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the United States will stand legal scrutiny if brought before the Supreme Court (SC).

In an interview with Philippine media following his attendance at the 24th Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) Summit here, Aquino said that the government panel made sure that the provisions of EDCA were in accordance with the Constitution.

“We are reasonably confident that anybody looking at it objectively will be able to say that we have met all the stipulations in the Constitution,” the President said at the Horizon Lake View Resort before returning to Manila on Sunday night.

He said that while there are people who would derail the implementation of the agreement, he is positive that it would be upheld by the high court.

EDCA was signed by Philippine and US government officials hours before US President Barack Obama arrived in the Philippines last April 28 for a two-day state visit. 

It allows US troops greater access to designated Philippine military facilities.  The US troops were also given the right to construct facilities and pre-position aircraft, vessels and equipment.

In an earlier briefing at Malacañang, Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino said EDCA is an implementing agreement of treaties that have been established between the Philippines and the US such as the Mutual Defense Treaty and the Visiting Forces Agreement.