The armies of US and the Philippines conduct subject matter expert exchange about Typhon midrange capability missile last June 27 in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. PHOTO FROM THE US ARMY PACIFIC
MANILA, Philippines — The presence of the United States (US) midrange missile launcher in her home province in Ilocos Norte led Sen. Imee Marcos to ask if Ilocanos are being used as a “human shield” against the country’s enemies.
Marcos raised the issue against the US midrange capability (MRC) or Typhon system when asked at a regular forum in Quezon City about her stand on having more Enhance Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) sites in the country.
READ: Imee Marcos questions new Edca sites: Why a stone’s throw away from Taiwan?
“Go ahead and add more. You placed it behind my house in Ilocos; you should also put it behind the houses in Forbes Park. It’s just crazy!” she said in Filipino during the Pandesal Forum on Thursday.
But more than the number, the senator is more interested on the location of the Edca facilities.
It was at this point that she brought up about the missile launcher that she said was positioned close to her home and Laoag International Airport.
READ: US missile system spotted in Ilocos Norte
“They might not know that it’s a civilian facility, and it has nothing to do with Edca. Why place it there? That’s why I’m really questioning things, especially since it’s a mid-range missile system,” the presidential sister said in Filipino.
“Why put it there? There are so many Edca sites, like Basa Air Base. Is the DND (Department of National Defense) really using Ilocanos as human shields? Is it really necessary for civilians to die if it get attacked and become a target?” she asked.
Marcos clarified she was not against any assistance from the US as she recognized that the country could not fight its enemies alone.
However, she could not help but ask why the MRC missile was positioned in a civilian facility.
“I really don’t understand. It’s just positioned there. What is that for? To become a target? It’s not ours, and we can’t use it. What’s the point of having it in a civilian facility where Filipinos, who are not soldiers, would become human shields,” she said in Filipino.
The missile system in question arrived in the country in April for the US-Philippines Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) exercises.
In September, the Philippine Army confirmed that the missile launcher would stay in the Philippines until further notice since it is still being used for military training in the country.