Rappler's latest stories on Enhanced Defense Cooperation
Choose U.S. or China? Carpio offers 3rd way
Terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement will make the PH-US Mutual Defense Treaty and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement useless, says retired justice Antonio Carpio
EXPLAINER: Visiting Forces Agreement
President Duterte has threatened to scrap the military pact between the Philippines and the United States. Here's what you should know about it.
Senate panel to review VFA, other Philippine defense pacts
'Number 1, ano ang benefits na nakuha ng Pilipinas dito? What is the national interest at stake in these agreements?' says Senator Aquilino Pimentel III on some questions to be taken up at the planned hearing
Malacañang downplays possibility of U.S. terminating other military pacts
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo says the Duterte government is not concerned the United States may terminate other military treaties following the Philippines' move to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement
DOJ: Effects of VFA termination on EDCA, Mutual Defense Treaty have to be studied
The justice department is ready with its memorandum on the legal procedures to terminate the 20-year-old VFA
Cayetano says PH can't file protest vs China bombers
Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano says it is 'ridiculous' to protest about an action beyond Philippine shores. 'Paano tayo magpo-protest sa hindi natin territory?'
DFA won't publicly condemn China over bombers
Instead of publicizing a diplomatic protest, the Philippines says it is 'closely monitoring developments in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea'
DFA silent on Chinese bombers in South China Sea
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon condemns 'this creeping invasion' while Senator Risa Hontiveros tells government 'to end their subservience to China'
Chinese bombers land on South China Sea island
'Nearly all of the Philippines falls within the radius of the bombers, including Manila and all 5 Philippine military bases earmarked for development under the US-Philippines Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement,' says the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative of the Center for Strategic and International Studies
Scarborough, Benham Rise general leads US-PH Balikatan 2018
It's the second Balikatan under President Rodrigo Duterte, who at the start of his term threatened to end the military exercises. Ties between the Philippines and US have since improved.
#ThewRap: Things you need to know, April 18, 2018
Hello! Here's a roundup of news you need to know this Wednesday.
Construction for PH-US EDCA military deal begins
(UPDATED) A groundbreaking ceremony is held at the Basa Air Base on Tuesday, April 17, attended by Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and US Ambassador Sung Kim.
Duterte reaffirms EDCA, U.S. ties in meeting with Trump
EDCA is an agreement which allows the US military to construct facilities and pre-position defense assets inside Philippine military bases
PH military asks Congress for P124M EDCA 'counterpart fund'
Armed Forces chief Gen Eduardo Año asks Congress for P124 million the Philippines has to cough up for the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement
SC nominee Mosquera disagrees with ruling on EDCA
Gerard Mosquera tells the Judicial and Bar Council that he would ve dissented with the 2016 EDCA ruling For him a treaty would have to be executed to justify stationing of foreign troops in the country
Duterte assures Trump of friendship, cooperation
But President Rodrigo Duterte is less warm as he talks about the military alliance between the Philippines and the United States
Duterte gov't rejects U.S. plans to construct in Palawan air base
EXCLUSIVE: Construction will proceed in two other military bases – Basa Air Base in Pampanga and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro – to implement the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement
Miss Universe, war on drugs, Duterte on EDCA | Midday wRap
Watch the midday newscast with Zak Yuson
Duterte tells U.S. to stop planned construction in PH bases
UPDATED Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana says it doesn t mean President Rodrigo Duterte wants to cancel EDCA altogether He only wants to review the structures that the US plans to build
EDCA: US set to build facilities in 3 PH military bases
President Rodrigo Duterte who had threatened to scrap the deal is okay with the plans according to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
Makabayan bloc to Duterte: End EDCA, military drills with US
Ang hamon sa kanya is really walk the talk says Kabataan Representative Sarah Elago on President Rodrigo Duterte s pursuit of an independent foreign policy
Rodrigo Duterte, United States, Twitter | 6PM wRap
Watch the evening edition of Rappler s newscast with Maria Ressa
Duterte wants to scrap EDCA
We have the EDCA Well forget it the President says in a speech before departing for Japan
US says EDCA is binding, reminds PH of aid after Yolanda
US Press Secretary Josh Earnest says the American government is confident that Filipinos recognize the benefits of close ties with the US
FACT CHECK: Was EDCA not signed by Aquino?
President Duterte said in Bacolod that EDCA was only signed by an aide and [former defense chief Voltaire] Gazmin Did the President get his facts right?
Duterte puts EDCA under review, threatens to cut US ties
Duterte cites 2 groups in Mindanao that will not talk peace with him if the Americans stayed in Mindanao
Senator wants inquiry into Duterte's 'conflicting' foreign policy
Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV says the government should clarify its position on foreign affairs given its conflicting statements
Duterte on Mary Jane, Liberal Party, Instagram | 6PM wRap
Watch the 6PM wRap with Chay Hofileña
Yasay: No shift in Philippine policy on US
Malacañang says the President s latest statements are intended to communicate that we need to be ready to chart our own course and find our own alliances
SC upholds PH-US military deal
The SC affirms its January ruling upholding the constitutionality of EDCA saying petitioners failed to raise new arguments in their motions for reconsideration
PH to China: No US militarization of West PH Sea
Malacañang also says that the highly uncontroversial PH US joint military exercises are meant to ensure that prosperity is continuous under a regime of stability through the participation of all countries
Bello hits Aquino admin over EDCA ‘deception’
In Rappler’s ‘The Leader I Want’ debate senatorial candidate Walden Bello says EDCA merely makes the Philippines a ‘military base’ of the US
US defense chief visits warship in South China Sea
6th UPDATE American Rear Admiral Ron Boxall says one or two Chinese vessels followed the warship but there were no tensions
US forces to gain access to more PH bases – Carter
US Defense Secretary Ash Carter who is now in Manila says more military bases will be added to the initial 5 agreed upon
PH, US hold war games as China flexes muscles
The 11 day Balikatan exercises are expected to show how the Philippines though severely outgunned can counter China with the help of the United States its longest standing ally
US military equipment arrive in Subic for Balikatan 2016
The shipment includes Humvee vehicles trucks jeeps backhoes and bulldozers
PH, US agree on EDCA implementation in Palawan, 4 other places
The Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan has been the site of maritime exercises with the militaries of the US Japan and Australia
In CDO debate, Poe, Santiago reject EDCA and US intervention
Poe says the Philippines can have a military as strong as Singapore s a country that can afford expensive military hardware
US to build facilities in old CDO airport in 2016
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin says once the required documents are processed in the coming months US troops can move in to begin construction of their facilities
Duterte open to joint exploration with China in West PH Sea
If the arbitration case on the maritime dispute drags on for too long Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte says he is willing to discuss sharing natural resources with China
US open to joint patrols with PH in disputed sea – envoy
US Ambassador Philip Goldberg declines to give a categorical response to the Philippine proposal but says I don’t think there are limitations to what the US can do
Battle over Cagayan de Oro airport: US base or new city center?
If EDCA enters the picture and the airport is used by the US military city officials say they would have to adjust accordingly But first they will try to convince the national government to favor their plan
Dissenters on EDCA: It exceeds scope of defense treaties
Because the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the US offers more than what the VFA or even the Mutual Defense Treaty provides it requires Senate ratification
How did SC justices decide key cases in 2014-2016?
We look back at landmark decisions by this batch of SC justices – between the latest appointment of Jardeleza in August 2014 and Villarama’s early retirement in January 2016
FULL TEXT: Supreme Court's decision on EDCA
UPDATED Read the 118 page decision on the PH US Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement
PH vows ‘prompt, mutually beneficial’ implementation of EDCA
Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario says the Supreme Court ruling on EDCA opens up new opportunities to further deepen our enduring alliance with the US
What 2016 bets from the Senate think of SC's EDCA decision
The senators some of whom earlier signed a resolution that the PH US military agreement needs Senate approval now say they respect the High Court s ruling
Sad day for PH sovereignty, environment – Activists
But other netizens welcome the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement EDCA ruling saying it would protect the country from external threats like China
SC rules: PH-US military deal constitutional
UPDATED The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement doesn t need the concurrence of the Senate according to the Supreme Court
