Some Philippine senators want to clarify to Iran: EDCA sites are not US military bases

Some senators suggested clarifying to Iran that the so-called Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the Philippines are not United States military bases.

EDCA sites refer to camps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines where U.S. troops are allowed access under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and the United States.

During a hearing of the Philippine Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Senator Rodante Marcoleta said Iran might mistakenly view the EDCA sites as a potential threat.

According to Germina Usudan, assistant secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine government had already clarified the matter to Iran during a political consultation last November. 

She said the Philippines explained that EDCA locations are not U.S. military bases and that the Philippine government retains full ownership and control over them.

Usudan also said the Philippines maintains good relations with Iran and noted that the DFA sent a letter of condolences following the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Hechanova, undersecretary for strategy and policy at the Department of National Defense, stressed that EDCA sites are very different from U.S. military bases in other countries that Iran has attacked. 

He said U.S. troops can only use EDCA sites with the Philippine government's permission.

Earlier, Senator Erwin Tulfo had expressed concern that EDCA sites could become targets of Iran. During the hearing, Tulfo suggested allowing Iranian officials to visit the sites to assure them that these facilities pose no threat. He added that China could also be invited.

Tulfo said the visit could help show that the sites are primarily used for training and humanitarian purposes, including storing disaster relief supplies and landing transport aircraft such as C-130s during emergencies. 

He said the move could help dispel suspicions that the facilities house weapons or military equipment and reduce concerns that they could trigger regional conflict.

However, Hechanova said the Philippines currently has no defense cooperation agreement with Iran, and visits to secure military facilities would require specific protocols and authorization from the government. 

He added that invitations to EDCA sites are generally extended only to countries with which the Philippines maintains defense cooperation.

"Right now, if we have defense cooperation agreements with countries like Australia, sir, yung mga allies natin, sir, that they are free to visit the EDCA sites upon our invitation," Hechanova said.

"But in certain cases, sir, there are certain processes and protocols, sir, that we really need to establish, sir, in order to make sure that we don't go beyond what is being authorized by our government in terms of visits to facilities which we consider the secure facilities, sir," he added.

-Paraluman News