The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the United States is constitutional, the Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday.
The SC voted 10-4, in favor of EDCA.
Presidential Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said that SC’s decision “strengthens the strategic partnership between the Philippines and the United States that is founded on two other important building blocks: the Mutual Defense Treaty and the Visiting Forces Agreement.”
According to Coloma, President Benigno Aquino III said the ruling will boost the ongoing modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and will allow the upgrading of military equipment and the national defense’s capability in humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
The Supreme Court denied petitions by former senators Rene Saguisag and Wigberto Tañada who said that the EDCA’s provisions were “lopsided in favor the Americans.”
Another group of petitioners from Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and incumbent and former members of the House of Representatives claimed EDCA is mainly motivated by the US strategic re-balancing towards Asia and is therefore in the service of US security and economic interests. (PRC)