SAN ANTONIO, Nueva Ecija – Sen. Imee Marcos on Monday expressed concern over the locations of the addition sites where American forces would have access under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) saying “the Philippine base should not become a staging area for attacks on other country.”
“Pakiwari naming, lahat e nasa Northern Luzon kaya nagdududa kami do’n para ba ipagtanggol ang soberanya ng Pilipinas sa West Philippine Sea o makikilahok tayo sa laban ng iba sa Taiwan,” Marcos said at the sidelines of the distribution of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) in this town.
She also distributed AICS in the municipalities of Jaen and Cabiao after guesting at the Sibuyas Festival in Bongabon town.
The senator said she wants additional provisions on EDCA to protect the country from being dragged into a war between the US and other nations.
“Kung talagang ipit na ipit na tayo sa EDCA at least lagyan naman natin ng iba’t ibang provisions ang kasunduan natin sa mga Amerikano kasi ayaw naman natin na masangkot sa away nila,” she said. “Wala naman tayong kalaban sa buong Asya.”
She noted that Taiwan is only about 400 kilometers to Ilocos making them afraid. “Ang Manila 550 kilometers e kung magpapasaklolo kami e sa Taiwan pa nga kami malapit kesa sa Maynila e. Kaya ayaw nating madamay sa away ng iba,” the Ilocano legislator said.
The Presidential Communications Office recently identified the new EDCA sites as the Camilo Osias Naval Base in Sta Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.
“Ang Ilocano ay ang sundalo ng bayan so hindi siguro matatawaran ang katapangan ng Ilocano pero hindi naman tayo nakikipaglaban sa kaaway ng iba na wala naman tayong alitan, wala naman tayong pinag-awayan bakit naman tayo makiki-away dito,” she added.
“Our fear is: we should not become a staging area, the Philippine base should not become a staging area for attacks on other country. Sana mailagay ‘yun as an additional provision and safeguard,” she said.
