A non-government organization has expressed concern that the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the Philippines could pose potential risks amid escalating tension in the Middle East.

The International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS) said the Philippines may become a legitimate target of US enemies in the Asia-Pacific region.

“Tayo ay lehitimong target din ng kung sino man ang katunggali ng US sa kanyang giyera dito sa Asia Pacific and it’s a very real possibility given the aggressiveness of the US,” ILPS Spokesperson, Arnold Padilla, said.

The Lumbia Air Base in Barangay Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro City is among the nine military bases in the Philippines designated as EDCA sites under the 2014 defense agreement between the Philippine and US governments.

Five other sites are located in Luzon, two in Palawan, and one in Cebu.

With the worsening conflict in the Middle East, some residents living near the Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City admitted they fear for their safety.

“Among nahadlokan karon tungod anang giyera sa Middle East apekado sab siguro mi kay gitukod naman nila og dayon ang EDCA basin ma apil mi simbako lang,” a resident, Virginia Digal, said.

Another resident, however, believes there is no immediate cause for alarm, saying that the conflict is far from the Philippine.

“Wala pa man pud ko makita nga mga Amerikano pa didto. Unsa man ilang tirahon wala may gamit nila diha siguro pang-gubat,” resident Eddie Rico said.

Officials of the Lumbia Air Base have yet to comment, as of this writing.

However, the National Security Council (NSC) clarified in a statement that EDCA sites are not owned by the United States.

NSC said the control of the facilities remains with the Philippine military while US forces are present only for training, interoperability, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response activities.

The Department of National Defense (DND) assured the public that there is currently no direct security threat to the country arising from the situation in the Middle East.

“Uulitin ko ang sinabi ng Armed Forces walang direct threat sa seguridad ng Republika ng Pilipinas in a military sense itong nangyayari sa Middle East sa ngayon,” Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said.