The Philippine Supreme Court Senior
Associate Justice Carpio reiterated his position on non—guarantee under Enhanced
Defense Cooperation Agreement that United States shall come to aid of Philippines
if tensions continue to escalate further, between Philippines and China over the
territorial rows in West Philippine Sea.
The acting Sol. Gen.l Florin
Hilbay during continuation of the oral arguments on the consolidated petitions
assailing constitutionality of the stated EDCA agreement, Justice Carpio
pointed that US, at height of Philippines' dispute with China over Scarborough
Shoal in 2012, announced its policy not meddling territorial rows despite US
commitment under US—Philippine MDT (Mutual Defense Treaty) that it shall come
to aid Philippines in times of armed clash with third state.
Carpio said that government has
cited West Philippine Sea disputes one of reasons for inking EDCA with US,
there is no guarantee under agreement that US will come to aid Philippines in event
of escalated tensions in connection with territorial rows.
"US said that they will not
take any sides in a territorial dispute. In the year 2012, China seized
Scarborough Shoal and US said that it was not covered by MDT. Now it depends on
America whether they want to come and help us or not, so what’s the value of EDCA
if there’s no guarantee of assistance?
"EDCA will just help us improve facilities
but does not give us (Philippines) guarantee that when there an armed attack, US
will come to our aid," Carpio said.
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