What a CA justice would tell Pia Wurtzbach about the US bases

Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach has invaded the Judicial and Bar Council public interviews as well after one of the candidates aspiring to be a Supreme Court justice was asked about the Filipino-German beauty queen.

While being interviewed by the JBC, Court of Appeals Associate Justice Mariflor Punzalan-Castillo was asked to respond to a question from Twitter about Wurtzbach's response to the first question and answer portion of the Miss Universe 2015 last December in Las Vegas.

Asked about her thoughts on possibly bringing back military bases to the Philippines, the 26-year-old candidate answered:

"I think that the US and the Philippines have always had a good relationship with each other. We've been colonized by the Americans and we have their culture in our traditions even up to this day. The Philippines is very welcoming with the Americans and I don't see any problem with that at all."

When asked what she wanted to tell Wurtzbach in light of her response, Castillo said: "I would tell her [that bringing back US military bases] is unconstitutional."

Castillo explained that "it is stated in the Constitution that there should be no military base [in the Philippines] unless concurred by Congress or approved by the people in a plebiscite."

US bases in Subic were removed in 1991 but last year Philippine and American officials signed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which will allow an enlarged rotational presence of American troops in the country. It was signed hours before US President Barack Obama arrived in Manila for a two-day state visit. There is currently a pending petition with the Supreme Court seeking to nullify the defense pact.

Asked how she would vote on the EDCA petition, Castillo said she would rule to strike down the bilateral defense deal.

"Strictly speaking, the Supreme Court can pass on the constitutionality of an executive agreement. I think I would declare it unconstitutional because US personnel and troops are here because of that. Structures are being built to store their weapons," she said.

She admitted, however, that it would be difficult to secure a unanimous ruling from a collegial body like the Supreme Court, especially in the context of alleged security threats posed by China over the territorial disputes on the South China Sea.

"I think there would be no unanimous decision because China is really a bully right now,"” said Castillo, when asked if she thinks it wise to have US presence here to counter China’s military strength.

Wurtzbach's position on EDCA raised some eyebrows back home, with Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago said she hoped to speak with the beauty queen about the issue when she returns to the country.

Gabriela party-list Rep. Emmi de Jesus said Wurtzbach should look into the October 2014 killing of transgender woman Jennifer Laude, as well as “other criminal abuses” supposedly committed by the US military in the Philippines and elsewhere so she could be a “powerful voice” in seeking justice for the victims of America’s exploits.

Following Wurtzbach’s response, former Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teddy Casiño took to Twitter while the pageant was ongoing to show his disapproval of the Filipina beauty queen’s stand on the issue. “She could have at least acknowledged that there are problems that have to be addressed re: US bases in PH,” he tweeted.

“Pag-uwi ni Pia, she should be briefed by Gabriela on the issue of US troops in PH to help her get a better perspective,” the former lawmaker added.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr., meanwhile, believed the question asked of Wurtzbach “wasn’t a fair one” because it was framed to elicit a favorable response from the contestant, considering that she was under a lot of pressure. —KG/KBK, GMA News