Supremacy of the Constitition

What Is EDCA?

EDCA means Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, an agreement with United States with the purpose of deepening defense cooperation between the two countries, and to maintain and develop their individual and collective capacities in relation to their military systems. basically the main goal of EDCA is to improve our military forces.

What are the views about EDCA?

There is a debate about the constitutionality of EDCA, some says that EDCA is unconstitutional because it violates the supreme law of the land, 1987 Philippine Constitution which states that in article 8 section 25 “After the expiration in 1991 of the agreement between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America concerning Military Bases, foreign military bases, troops, or facilities shall not be allowed in the Philippines except under a treaty duly concurred in by the Senate and, when the Congress so requires, ratified by majority of the votes cast by the people in a national referendum held for that purpose, and recognized as a treaty by the other contracting State.” But the EDCA was characterized by both governments as an executive agreement therefore it does not need the concurrence of the Senate as mandated by the Constitution.

“The end does not justify the means”

Our government may have indeed a noble purpose that will be beneficial to the Philippines for signing EDCA but still they must obey the mandate of the Constitution. We, the Filipino citizens adhere to the supremacy of the Constitution all acts must be in accordance with the supreme law of the land but unless the Supreme Court promulgates its decision regarding constitutionality of EDCA, the debate will continue.