Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the “proximity” of Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement or EDCA sites to Taiwan must be a “geographical accident”, emphasizing that these locations were identified for the country’s national interest.
“You know what, its proximity to Taiwan is a geographical accident, and [if] other people are paranoid about it, it’s their problem. For me, my concern is Philippine national interest and national security, and we will have to put bases, not necessarily EDCA, throughout our archipelago,” Teodoro told reporters in a chance interview during his visit on Thursday to Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan — where one of the additional EDCA sites is located — accompanied by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.
Teodoro added that the defense department is now pursuing an archipelagic doctrine with baselines.
“We have to protect that. The paranoia of other people may be, rightly so, taken into consideration, but national security is paramount in this country,” he said.
The Philippines has already reassured other countries that it is not allowed by the Constitution to wage war or any offensive action “as an instrument of national policy.”
“Now if they do not take our word for it, then how can we trust each other? Just like some people say they have pacific intentions, yet there are contrary actions,” he said.
The defense chief maintained that the DND’s actions are anchored on the best interests of the country.
“EDCA is not only for logistical support on the United States side, but it’s capability upgrade on the Philippine side and that’s what I’m making sure of,” he said.
On the other hand, Teodoro said the development of all existing locations identified as EDCA sites should be expedited to address the “operational limitations.”
An example of such limitation is refueling using the barrel method by Philippine and American aircraft engaged in disaster relief missions following the onslaught of the southwest monsoon and Typhoon “Egay”.
“Now you are noticing the operational limitation—as you can see they are using barrels for refueling for both Philippine assets and the United States air assets,” Teodoro said.
Citing the Lal-lo Airfield, Teodoro said developing or building more facilities will improve “operational tempo.”
Considering the urgent demand for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief requirements in the Philippines, Teodoro pointed out the need to fast-track the construction of five initial EDCA sites with the US, including the Cesar Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga; Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation in Nueva Ecija; Lumbia Airport in Cagayan De Oro; Antonio Bautista Air Base in Puerto Princesa, Palawan; and Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu, as well as the additional four, namely the Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.
Teodoro said the areas where these EDCA sites are the most disaster-prone.
These locations are also essential to the integrity of the country’s credible deterrent posture and Philippine territorial security, he added.
“The EDCA is purely a logistical site of the United States to help us speed up operational tempo and response. These are non-offensive,” Teodoro said, stressing that Filipino assets to be deployed or positioned in EDCA sites will remain as “Philippine national security items for our territorial defense.”