Senator Francis Tolentino on Friday expressed his support for the use by the United States of more military bases in the Philippines.
Still, Tolentino, vice-chair of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, stressed that whatever deal the Philippines enters with the United States, the nation’s greater interests must be guaranteed.
“I am in favor of defense and security cooperation ‘upgrades’ with reliable allies like the United States, considering the evolving regional conditions and challenges,” Tolentino said.
“So long as this is anchored on solid constitutional foundations and for the greater interests of the nation and EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement) is evidently a good model,” he added.
He issued the remarks following the joint announcement made by Manila and Washington on Thursday over plans to accelerate the full implementation of EDCA, with the agreement to designate four new bases as EDCA sites on top of the existing five.
According to Tolentino, “friendship and sovereignty” must be the key pillars in laying down the parameters for this new partnership between the two Pacific-ally nations.
Earlier this year, the lawmaker proposed the conduct of a multilateral show of maritime security cooperation with the United States and other neighboring countries which belong to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, following the latest tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
Tolentino stressed that expanding the conduct of joint patrols — to include other claimant states among ASEAN nations — will help ensure freedom of navigation, and the exercise of fishing rights.
He cited the need to somehow ease existing tensions due to territorial disputes hounding countries like the Philippines and China.