Sisilipin ng Mataas na Kapulungan kung may mga paglabag sa Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) at kung ito ay kailangan pang ratipikahan ng Senado.
Ayon kay Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, tatalakayin din nila sa Lunes kung may mga paglabag sa Saligang Batas ito, partikular na sa usapin ng mga base militar.
“Contrary to the claim of the government that the EDCA does not involve the establishment of military bases, the EDCA gives the US rights of possession, control, and use over areas of Philippine territory described as ‘Agreed Locations’,” ayon kay Santiago. “These rights amount to the maintenance of military bases in the Agreed Locations.”
Iginiit pa nito na sa pamamagitan lamang ng pagratipika ng Senado magiging legal ang EDCA dahil ito naman ang nakatakda sa batas.
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Aniya, mali rin ang depensa ng Malacañang na ipinatutupad lang ng EDCA ang Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).
“The Constitution is categorical. It requires Senate concurrence whether the document is called a treaty or any other international agreement. In international law, there is no such thing as an implementing treaty, especially in our Constitution. Every treaty has to be on the basis of Constitutional requirement, whether implementing or not,” dagdag ni Santiago.
Una nang sinabi nito na puwedeng maging batayan para ma-impeach si Pangulong Benigno Aquino III sa pagpayag nito sa EDCA.
