Senate panel questions EDCA sites' locations, suggests other areas

MANILA -- The Senate committee on foreign relations on Wednesday questioned the locations of EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement) sites as well as the supposed disregard on some concerned areas in the country.

During the hearing, Senator Imee Marcos, committee chairperson, said the selected locations seem to be “random” and “no longer purposeful” for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“I am very interested about this because the choice seems to be random and no longer purposeful with regard to the modernization of the AFP, which at the end of the day is what we are all here for,” she said.

Marcos asked Defense Secretary

Carlito Galvez Jr. if the Philippine officials are now focusing on the Taiwan Strait instead of the West Philippine Sea considering that many EDCA sites are located in the north.

“So we have given up all claims on the east sector and west sector in the Philippine seas, is that correct? We are now obsessed with the Taiwan Strait?” she said.

Galvez responded, “No, we are still concentrated on the West Philippine Sea.” Senator Sherwin Gatchalian asked Galvez if the EDCA sites’ locations are strategic for the Philippines or for the US.

“You mentioned earlier that it is strategic, but strategic to whom? Is it strategic for us or for the US?”

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian earlier "advised" the Philippines to oppose Taiwan independence instead of offering the US access to its military facilities near the Taiwan Strait if Manila “genuinely” cared about the 150,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan.

According to Galvez, the locations are strategic for the Philippines.

The DND earlier said the new EDCA sites with the US would address internal and external threats as well as improve the disaster response capability of the country.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said the Philippines would not allow the US to use the EDCA sites for activities against China in connection with the tension in the Taiwan Strait.

“We would not agree to any kind of activity or even materials not consistent with the agreed activities. Therefore, I think it would be along those lines that if there were ever proposals, we would have to find out whether it is consistent with these agreements,” he said.

Galvez said he defers to the statement of Manalo.

For disaster response, Marcos questioned why Guiuan, Samar was not picked considering it was badly hit by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 but Cagayan has two new EDCA sites.

Marcos pointed out that provinces in the eastern side of the country should be considered. Gatchalian noted that Bicol, which he said is a gateway of typhoons, is not even included.

Galvez said that the major consideration in picking locations for EDCA sites is the “total defense of the archipelago.”

He noted the vulnerability of the AFP is in the north, adding that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. instructed them to prepare for external defense.

For counterterrorism efforts, Senator Marcos questioned why there is no EDCA site designated in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Galvez said the military already has a strategically located base in Zamboanga and an extension arrangement in Cotabato City.

Malacañang recently announced four new EDCA sites: 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.

Existing EDCA sites are Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu, and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City.

Earlier during the hearing, Manalo said six of the 16 projects in the five initial EDCA locations would be completed this year.

“There has been significant progress in eight of the remaining 16 projects in the five originally agreed locations. Six of those projects are estimated to be completed in 2023,” said Manalo.

These projects include the runway project at Basa Air Base, storage facility at Mactan Air Base, and the humanitarian assistance and disaster response warehouse at Fort Magsaysay.

Manalo also confirmed that only five EDCA projects have been completed so far.

Signed in 2014, EDCA grants US troops access to designated Philippine military facilities, allows them to build facilities, and pre-position equipment, aircraft, and vessels.

AFP chief visits EDCA sites in Northern Luzon

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Andres

C. Centino on April 18 visited the newly approved Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in Northern Luzon and was briefed on the construction projects being undertaken in one of the new locations.

In a statement late Tuesday, AFP public affairs chief Col. Jorry Baclor said Centino and his delegation consisted of Philippine Air Force head Lt. Gen. Stephen Parreño and Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) chief Lt. Gen. Fernyl Buca, along with other senior military officials, first visited Lal-lo Airfield in Cagayan which is also one of the "Balikatan" field training exercises staging areas in Northern Luzon.

"The CSAFP (Chief of Staff AFP) and his delegation were briefed on the ongoing projects in the airfield, in line with its development as one of the agreed locations under the EDCA as a prime site for the AFP's territorial defense and humanitarian assistance and disaster response efforts," he added.

No details were given by the AFP regarding the type and specific progress of ongoing projects in Lal-lo Airfield. Centino and his companions were welcomed by Tactical Operations Group 2 commander Col. Sadiri Tabutol.

The Philippines earlier named Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lallo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan as additional EDCA locations.

The proposal to add additional EDCA locations was announced by the Philippines and US defense departments last February.

These new locations add to the five EDCA locations earlier picked by Manila and Washington D.C. -Cesar Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga; Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation in Nueva Ecija; Lumbia Airfield in Cagayan de Oro City; Antonio Bautista Air Base in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; and Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu.

After his visit to Lal-lo Airfield, the AFP chief also visited Marine Battalion Landing Team-10 (MBLT10) of the Philippine Marine Corps at the Naval Base Camilo Osias, "4th Marine Brigade commander, Brig.Gen. Vicente Mark Anthony Blanco III; commanding officer of MBLT-10, Lt. Col. Rodel Pacifico; and 3rd Littoral Logistics Battalion led by

Lt. Col. Mark Lenzi, USMC (United States Marine Corps) welcomed the CSAFP and his party," Baclor said.

Centino's delegation later proceeded to the 5th Infantry Division headquarters in Gamu, Isabela. They were warmly welcomed by 5th Infantry Division Brig. Gen. Danilo Benavides, 503rd Infantry Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Santiago Enginco and Maj. Joe Van Deusen of the US Army's 25th Infantry Division.

During his visit, Centino encouraged the troops assigned to Nolcom to maximize the exercises' opportunities and engagement with their US counterparts.

"It is important that we realize that if we work together with our friends and allies, we will be stronger. Therefore, make the most of these exercises," he added. Centino earlier said this year's "Balikatan" is the largest in history with a total of 17,680 Filipino, American and Australian participants. The annual exercises started April 11 and will conclude on the 28th.

Marcos to clarify Chinese envoy remarks on OFWs’ safety in Taiwan

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said he intends to talk with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian and clarify the latter's remarks about the safety of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan.

In a chance interview in Bulacan, Marcos said there must have been an element of "lost in translation" in Huang's words regarding the OFWs in Taiwan, considering that English is not the ambassador's first language.

The Chinese diplomat earlier "advised" Manila to oppose "Taiwan independence" if it genuinely cares about the 150,000 Filipinos working there amid rising cross-strait tensions.

"I'll be talking to the Ambassador soon. And I'm sure he will be... I'm sure he'll be very anxious to give his own interpretation of what he was trying to say," Marcos said.

"We were all a little surprised, but I just put it down to the difference in language," he added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday said no Filipino is seeking government help for repatriation in Taiwan as of yet amid the China-Taiwan tension.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo Jose de Vega reassured Filipino lawmakers and the public that contingency plans have long been in place in all places where there is high concentration of Filipino workers, including Taiwan.

The reassurance came following the remarks of Huang last Monday, who claimed that the United States intends to take advantage of the new sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) to interfere in the Taiwan Strait situation.

During their meeting last week, National Security Adviser Eduardo M. Año personally assured the Chinese ambassador that the additional EDCA sites are not meant for offensive operations against China or for interference in the Taiwan issue but are meant to protect the territorial integrity of the country.

He assured Huang that the Philippines is for the peaceful resolution of the Taiwan issue and for the continued stability of the region.

Año also explained that the choice of the EDCA sites is in accordance with the Strategic Basing Plan of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The identified EDCA sites are Philippine bases which the country wants to further develop based on the requirements for strategic basing and development of the AFP.

National Security Council assistant director general and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya earlier said the selection was not US-dictated but identified by the AFP. (MNS)

Telcos renew call to extend SIM registration deadline

MANILA -- Local telecommunications companies on Thursday asked the government anew to extend the deadline for subscriber identity module (SIM) registrations as the deadline on April 26 nears with less than half of all active mobile users in the country registered.

In a statement, Smart Communications Inc. and TNT said around 36.5 million or 55.1 percent of its subscribers have been registered and noted that extending the deadline would help the remaining unregistered users to secure documentary requirements such as government identification (ID). “At present, all 160 million subscribers in the country are given only 121 days to register. Comparatively, in other countries like Indonesia and India, PTEs were given 1 to 2 years of a registration window to better prepare for and promote SIM registration,” PLDT and Smart First VP Cathy Yang said.

To ensure continued registration in remote communities, Smart and TNT vowed to continue working with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), and other government institutions to provide “physical assistance” at several sites all over the country.

“Through this initiative, Smart and TNT aim to help those who may need assistance in registering their SIMs, especially senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and those using non-data phones,” Yang said.

On the other hand, Globe Group president and CEO Ernest Cu urged its users to comply with the SIM registration process, noting that 33.067 million or 38.23 percent of its 86.5 million customers have so far been registered.

“Pending response to our appeal for the government to extend the deadline, we call on all Globe SIM users to comply with the law,” Cu said. He renewed the call for the extension of the deadline to allow their customers to obtain government IDs -- one of the main reasons why many mobile users remain unregistered. One solution for the problem, he said, is to allow the use of alternative forms of IDs such as school or work IDs. “SIMs that remain unregistered by the deadline will be deactivated, preventing customers from using Globe’s call, text, and data services. This could severely impact customers who rely on their mobile numbers for authentication in various sensitive transactions, especially banking, and other financial services, and who use mobile phones for day-today needs,” he said.

On Wednesday, the DICT said there are no plans “at this point” to extend the deadline for SIM registration beyond April 26.

It noted the importance of SIM registration to promote the responsible use of SIMs and provide law enforcement agencies with the necessary tools to crack down on cybercriminals who take advantage of the unrestricted purchase of prepaid SIMs.

To date, the NTC said a total of 75,564,837 SIM cards have so far been registered nationwide, making up 44.97 percent of the 168,016,400 active mobile users in the country as of December 2022.

Groups ask SC to halt SIM card registration

Various organizations, including party-list groups, on Monday filed a petition before the Supreme Court (SC) to declare unconstitutional Republic Act 11934 or the SIM (subscriber identity module) Card Registration Act.

Data showed about 57 million users have registered with only less than two weeks before the April 26 deadline, or just 34 percent of the estimated 168.977 million SIM cards in use nationwide.

In their 59-page petition, the groups said the law restricts the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech and violates the right against unreasonable searches, seizures, and the right to substantive due process.

The petitioners said the SIM Registration Act imposes a system of prior restraint through mandatory registration.

The petition filed by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, journalist Ronalyn Olea, former Bayan Muna Party-list representative Eufemia Cullamat, Bayan Muna secretary general Renato Reyes Jr., information technology professional Maded Batara III of Junk SIM Registration Network, fisherfolk leader Alberto Roldan of Pamalakaya, peasant leader Danilo Ramos and lawyer Michael Christopher de Castro, among others, asked the SC to issue a temporary restraining order while their plea is pending and the respondents to "cease and desist from using, storing, transferring, and processing all information gathered into the SIM Register and destroy data already gathered."

Named as respondents are the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Department of Information and Communications Technology, National Privacy Commission and the Trade and Industry, the Interior and Local Government, and the Education departments.

The law signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Oct. 8, 2022 requires Public Telecommunication Entities (PTEs) or direct sellers to demand end users of SIM cards to present identification document to validate their identities.

PTEs must submit verified lists of their authorized dealers and agents nationwide to the NTC and updated lists every quarter.

Telecommunications companies have asked the government to extend the registration deadline “to help give ample time to all mobile users, particularly the marginalized sectors and those located in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas of the country, to register their SIM cards.” Unregistered SIM cards past the deadline will be deactivated.

Comelec mulls proposal to defer Barangay, SK polls in NegOr The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday said it will seriously consider the proposal to postpone the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in Negros Oriental in October amid the prevailing political tension in the province.

Comelec chairperson George Garcia said the commission may or may not defer the upcoming polls in the province depending on the situation.

"It should be seriously and carefully studied by the Commission,” Garcia said in a radio interview in reaction to the proposal of Senator Francis Tolentino to defer the Barangay and SK elections in Negros Oriental amid the current peace and order situation in the province.

The province is experiencing high political tension following the death of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and eight others last month, which was allegedly masterminded by Rep. Arnolfo Teves.

Garcia said the Comelec could postpone the polls based on Section 5 of the Omnibus Election Code which allows the body to defer the elections, either via motu proprio or upon a verified petition.

Based on the section: An election can be postponed should there be "any serious cause, such as violence, terrorism, loss or destruction of election paraphernalia or records, force majeure, and other analogous causes of such a nature" that makes the holding of free, orderly, and honest election impossible.

But Garcia said the body will still study the situation in the province if it warrants the suspension of the elections.

“Admittedly, we have the power to postpone the elections in an area," he added.

Election officers can transfer venue of filing of COCs Meanwhile, election officers could seek a transfer of venue for the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) in connection with the upcoming October polls.

Comelec Resolution No. 10904 promulgated on April 19, 2023, said the local Comelec officers may ask for a transfer of venue if it is needed.

"The Commission anticipates numerous requests from Election Officers (EOs) for change of venue for the filing of COC as their respective offices are not suitable due to reasons of security of aspirants and/or Comelec employees, limited space, or other valid grounds," it said.

The election officers could file their request for transfer of venue for the filing of COCs not later than July 28, 2023, to their Provincial Election Supervisor and/or Regional Election Director.

It noted that the proposed new venue must not be owned, leased, or occupied by any incumbent official or any person who is related to any incumbent official within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, or any officer of the government or leader of any political party, group or faction, nor in any building or surrounding premises under the actual control of a private entity, political party or religious organization.

The place must also be of sufficient size to admit and comfortably accommodate a reasonable number of aspirants at one time; located within the territory or jurisdiction of the Office of the EO concerned.

It should also be along a public road and in central as possible.

The COC filing period for the October 30 polls has been set from August 28 to September 2, 2023. (MNS)