PESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. previously claimed that EDCA sites would help in disaster response. Now that Typhoon Carina has passed, Americans failed to help according to a geopolitical analyst.
The Philippines is frequently hit by typhoons due to its location facing the Pacific Ocean.
This is where extreme changes in temperature and air pressure often occur between the oceans and continents.
Therefore, it is not new for our country to prepare for disasters like typhoons, and it is the government’s duty to present its plan to the public to prevent or mitigate the possible effects on Filipinos.
One of the ways the Marcos administration is insisting on improving disaster preparedness is by allowing more US military bases.
To recall, Bongbong Marcos Jr. supported the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) to supposedly strengthen the Philippines’ disaster response.
But instead of essential equipment for disaster response, tanks, missiles, and war training were showcased by the Americans – which the government just shrugged off.
Recently, Typhoon Carina passed through the Philippines, putting the government’s ambitious claims about the EDCA sites to the test.
However, as the typhoon left the Philippine area of responsibility, the presence of the Americans was not felt at all.
On July 29, Monday, various sectors of society opposing the war gathered to question Marcos and America’s EDCA sites.
For geopolitical analyst Herman “Ka Mentong” Laurel, it is evident that there is too much propaganda for the EDCA sites.
“We have noticed that there is a lot of propaganda for the US military bases, and there is no truth to the claim that they will help our country during disasters,” said Herman “Ka Mentong” Laurel, Geopolitical Analyst.
He said that the ones they considered enemies were the first to help the affected people.
“Who was the first to respond? The so-called enemy of the Philippines, China. Ambassador Huang was touring Metro Manila, and where is the United States? Where are the EDCA bases? Where are the American relief trucks? We don’t see any, so everyone should wake up to the deceit of these Americans,” he added.
For former CPP-NPA-NDF intelligence officer Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz, what Marcos did was treason and betrayal of the nation.
“Yes, it is not just rudeness but clear betrayal by the Marcos government to spread US military bases within Philippine military camps without passing through consultative public opinion and Senate approval. This circumvents the constitution, and it is clear that it should not be tolerated by the people; it is a betrayal of our country’s sovereignty and integrity,” stated Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz, Former Cadre.
For Ka Eric, it is evident that Marcos Jr.’s sudden shift in his foreign policy is for their own interests, using the Dutertes to get what they want.
“Clearly, they want to recover more than $380-M of ill-gotten wealth frozen in America, and their real estate properties in New York worth hundreds of millions as well. This shows his pretense and campaign gimmick using the Dutertes, and the theme of unity and continuity was about themselves only,” exclaimed Celiz.
Former NTF-ELCAC official Dr. Lorraine Badoy called the current government a puppet of America.
“It is good that Filipinos have seen the lies of this government, and those in power are puppets of the Americans,” said Dr. Lorraine Badoy, Former Spokesperson, NTF-ELCAC.
She emphasized that the EDCA sites being used for disaster response is only farce.
“Nature itself has unmasked them. Where is America? Did you see anything? No, right? So, what they say is nonsense,” added Badoy.
