The Supreme Court’s (SC) decision to declare the controversial Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) constitutional further bolsters the alliance of the Philippines and the United States, according to the Malacañang.
“The Supreme Court’s affirmative decision on the constitutionality of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) 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,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement on Tuesday.
“This ruling boosts the on-going Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Modernization Program and paves the way for upgrading our military equipment and capability for national defense as well as for humanitarian assistance and disaster response. According to the President, one of the benefits of the Edca would be to introduce the AFP to the ‘… most modern equipment … and have a generational leap in our abilities,'” he added.
Coloma, in an earlier briefing, said the Edca was an important part of the government’s plan to strengthen the AFP.
The SC on Tuesday upheld the legality of the Edca with a vote of 10-4.
It pointed out that the President had the authority to enter into executive agreements on foreign military bases, troops, or facilities as long as “(a) it is not the instrument that allows the presence of foreign military bases, troops or facilities, or (b) it merely aims to implement an existing law or treaty and holding that the Edca is one such executive agreement.”
READ: Supreme Court upholds legality of Edca
“As it is, Edca is not constitutionally infirm. As an executive agreement, it remains consistent with existing laws and treaties it purports to implement,” the SC said in its decision.
The Edca, which gives US forces access to Philippine military facilities, was signed in 2014, coinciding with the visit of US President Barack Obama.
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