Sen. Imee wants ‘safeguards’ in new EDCA sites
SAN ANTONIO, Nueva Ecija — Expressing fears on the selection of the four new proposed sites for the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States of America, Sen Imee R. Marcos said that “safeguard provisions” must be put in place to prevent it from becoming a “staging area” for possible attacks on other countries.
The presidential sister, who chairs the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said she hopes “additional safeguards” are included in the EDCA “because we do not want to engage in a war which does not involve us,” noting the escalating tension between China and Taiwan.
“Kung talagang ipit na ipit na tayo sa EDCA, at least lagyan naman natin ng iba’t-ibang probisyon ang kasunduan natin sa mga Amerikano, kasi ayaw naman natin masangkot sa away nila, wala naman tayong kalaban sa buong Asya,” the senator told a media briefing held at the office of Mayor Arvin C. Salonga on Monday.
“Our fear is, it should not become a staging area, the Philippine bases should not become a staging area for attacks on other countries, sana mailagay iyon as additional provisions on safeguards,” added Marcos.
The senator’s visit here was considered “historic” because she was accompanied by Jaen Mayor Sylvia C. Austria and her son, Vice Mayor Sylvester C. Austria, who also joined the program proper after the senator led earlier in Jaen the distribution of P3-million worth of Assistance to Individuals In Crisis Situations (AICS) to about 1,000 beneficiaries.
Welcoming them were Salonga, president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Nueva Ecija chapter (LMP-NE), Vice Mayor Julie E. Maxwell and the entire Sangguniang Bayan, including barangay officials and department heads.
Salonga thanked Marcos for always remembering the town and his constituents in times of need after the former also led the pay-out of P3,000 each to 1,000 AICS beneficiaries.
