MANILA, Philippines – Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday tagged as unfounded concerns that Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites around the country are potential targets for Iran’s retaliatory attacks due to the Philippines being a military ally of the United States.
“No. That is unfounded because we cannot compare the situation in the Middle East here in the Philippines. Our bilateral and multilateral alliances are for defensive purposes and deterrent purposes only,” Teodoro said in Filipino in an interview with Malacañang reporters.
The United States and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran on Feb. 28, which triggered Tehran to strike back and attack American bases across the Middle East, including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
In the Philippines, there are nine EDCA sites: 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; Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu; Naval Base Camilo Osias in Santa Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.
Teodoro echoed earlier statements from the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines that the military installations are not US-controlled bases and remain under the full ownership, control and management of the Philippine military.
“These concerns, I will repeat, are baseless. Right now, I will repeat what the Armed Forces said: There is no direct threat to the security of the Republic of the Philippines in the military sense of what is happening in the Middle East right now,” he said.
