No ‘pasalubong’ from Obama?

ONE controversial issue  during the visit of President Barack Obama to the Philippines last April 28-29 highlights those instances when Fil-Ams, who have already been naturalized American citizens, have to confront two directly opposing perspectives and are challenged to make a stand.
What do we value more: a deal that will be beneficial to America or to the Philippines?
Surely, kababayans back home love President Obama, giving him the warm welcome which exemplifies the brand of hospitality that Filipinos are known for.
However,  many kababayans in the Philippines and here in America felt disappointed over the outcome of Obama’s visit.
For one, Obama did not bring home the much anticipated “pasalubong”many Fil-Ams have been hoping for — especially those with expired or expiring visas.
No Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for the Philippines was announced before Obama’s trip, nor during his two-day stay in Manila — despite words of compassion for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.
There was still no announcement of any decision when he came back to the United States either.
He did bring “pasalubong”, though, for America. Hours before Obama’s arrival on Philippine soil, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) was already signed –an agreement which will give US planes, warships and troops greater access to the archipelago.
With the signed agreement, Obama said: “American forces can begin rotating through Filipino airfields and ports. We’ll train and exercise together more to bring our militaries even closer, and to support your efforts to strengthen your armed forces. We’ll improve our ability to respond even faster to disasters like Yolanda.”
Critics of EDCA opined that as it had been in the past, the Philippines got the short end of the stick in this agreement.
As ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC)  Correspondent Gigi Grande reported:
The Military Bases Agreement of 1947 gave Americans unhampered control of Subic and Clark.
A Military Assistance Agreement renewed in 1953 binds the Philippines to purchase arms, equipment and vessels from the US unless both parties decide otherwise.
The Visiting Forces Agreement  (VFA) allows American authorities to take custody of US personnel charged with crimes.
And while the Mutual Defense Treaty binds both countries to defend each other in the event of an attack on a metropolitan area, the Philippines must also defend the US in case of an attack in the Pacific.
The US, however, is not bound to defend the Philippines in case of an attack on disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea.
That provision is nowhere in the treaty.
Roland Simbulan of the Center for People Empowerment in Government said: “We like to believe na mutual and equal, our leaders like to believe that. Pero sa realidad sila yung may upper hand palagi,” said Roland Simbulan of the Center for People Empowerment in Government.
The supposed lopsided agreements have made critics wary of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement or EDCA.
The government argued that it’s a necessary implementation of Article 2 of the MDT which says the Philippines must develop its capacity to resist armed attack.
Simbulan is unconvinced. He said the US did little to help the Philippines develop its external defense capability in the last four decades.
“Kung gusto nila tayong tulungan at imodernize sa external defense capability they should really assist us in getting state of the art equipment, hindi tong mga lumang coast guard cutters na binenta pa nila sa atin when these are candidates for the junkyard,” explained Simbulan.
The EDCA will give US ships, aircraft and soldiers access to Philippine bases and allow construction of US facilities to store supplies.
In return, the pact formalizes humanitarian assistance for disaster relief.
But Harry Roque of the Center for International Law said there’s no need to sign a pact for humanitarian assistance. That, he said, is already covered by humanity and public conscience.
He said the dangers of the agreement outweigh any benefits.
“Isang implication kapag pinagamit natin yung military bases is kapag nagkaroon ng digmaan sa pagitan ng US and kahit sino man, maski hindi tayo kasama sa giyerang yan, ay pwedeng ma-target ang ating teritoryo dahil hinayaan natin sila na gamitin ang ating mga base militar,” stated Rogue.
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, Professor Roque and other critics said they will scrutinize the Executive Agreement. They believe this agreement requires a two-thirds concurrence from the Senate.
Amid the skepticism, US Ambassador Philip Goldberg reassured Filipinos that Philippine sovereignty and laws will be paramount, as both countries enter into further discussions and iron out details on the recently forged Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
Goldberg said in an interview with ANC:  “We take very seriously our respect for the Philippines, the sovereignty of the Philippines. We will do everything in our power to make sure all Philippine laws are observed.”
Goldberg pointed out that the EDCA was derived from the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.
He said the EDCA will also be carried out through provisions of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which has been ratified by the Senate and upheld by the Supreme Court.
“I understand the sensitivities, but we have an agreement on how we will handle such things,” he said.
This is also the reason why he can’t give a timeline for the completion of the annexes of the EDCA. He also can’t say which bases will be tapped, or the number of US troops that will stay in these locations.
“It has to be in the mutual interest of both countries. The Philippines has a say at every step along the way,” he reassured Filipinos.
Do you believe the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) will be mutually beneficial for the Philippines and America?

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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos