Still no SC ruling on EDCA; voting set for December

The Supreme Court has once again deferred ruling on the petitions against the Philippines' Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the US.

 

At least two court sources confirmed to GMA News Online that the high court would decide on the matter in December.

 

The sources said voting on the petitions was deferred last week, and the tribunal just decided to deliberate on them "a month from now, thereabouts."

 

Under EDCA, the US will be allowed to build structures, store as well as preposition weapons, defense supplies and materiel, station troops, civilian personnel and defense contractors, transit and station vehicles, vessels, and aircraft for a period of 10 years.

 

The two petitions against the deal were filed separately by former senators Rene Saguisag and Wigberto Tañada, and by another group composed of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and incumbent and former members of the House of Representatives.

 

^{Bagong Alyansang Makabayan supporters gather in front of the Supreme Court in Manila on Monday, November 16, to wawait the possible release of the high court's decision on the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). Julius Segovia} 

 

In their petition, Saguisag and Tañada both claimed EDCA's terms and provisions are “lopsided in favor of the Americans.”

 

The second batch of petitioners, meanwhile, said the EDCA goes against the Philippines' national interest, is disadvantageous to Filipinos, and is mainly motivated by the US strategic re-balancing towards Asia and is therefore in the service of US security and economic interests.

 

The petitioners said the EDCA would grant the US “carta blanche power to establish and operate de facto military bases anywhere on Philippine soil, minus the cost of paying for one.” — RSJ, GMA News