AFP awaits SC decision on Edca fate

Military chief General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. receives his fourth star in a donning of ranks ceremony held at the Department of National Defense on Friday. In the photo with General Catapang is his wife, Vilma Catapang, and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. AFP PUBLIC AFFAIRS

MANILA, Philippines—The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday said it is awaiting the decision of the Supreme Court on the legality of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) between the Philippines and the United States even as civil society groups have filed another impeachment complaint against President Aquino over the military agreement.

“That’s how it is, this is a free country. You can talk, you can file cases and, hopefully, it will be decided [favorably] by the Supreme Court. We’ll just await what the Supreme Court decision is,” Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. told reporters during a visit to the Philippine Navy headquarters.

The complaint, backed by the Gabriela party-list, was filed on Thursday by civil society groups which earlier questioned Edca’s legality before the Supreme Court.

The complaint accused Aquino of committing culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust in pushing for Edca’s affirmation, since the agreement allegedly violates constitutional provisions banning the presence of foreign troops and bases and the use and entry of nuclear weapons in the country.

“We still have to find out if it is unconstitutional, so we cannot jump the gun,” said Catapang, who was promoted to four-star general rank on Friday.

He said a delay in the implementation of the agreement might be disadvantageous to certain components of Edca.

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