SC reschedules EDCA voting anew

The Supreme Court has rescheduled anew the voting on the constitutionality of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Voting on whether EDCA is constitutional or not will be on Dec. 16.

Last Nov. 10, the high court was expected to rule on EDCA but rescheduled the voting to Nov. 16.

The EDCA, which has an initial term of 10 years, was signed in time for the state visit of US President Barack Obama on April 28 last year as part of his four-nation Asian tour.

Petitioners said the government violated several provisions of the Constitution, including the ban on foreign military bases and facilities without Senate concurrence.

Petitioners also cited the danger that EDCA might facilitate the entry of nuclear weapons into the Philippines, which is barred by the Constitution.

Among the petitioners are former senators Rene Saguisag and Wigberto Tanada as well as militant lawmakers, Bayan Muna party-list Reps. Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate.

Named as respondents are Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad, ex-AFP Chief retired General Emmanuel Bautista, Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino, Ambassador Eduardo Malaya, Ambassador Lourdes Yparraguirre, Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III, and Defense Assistant Secretary for Strategic Assessments Raymund Jose Quilop.