By Priam Nepomuceno | Philippine News Agency
Claims that the Philippines will be targeted by Iran due to the presence of Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites are “false narratives,” a ranking military official said on Wednesday.
In an interview with reporters, Philippine Navy Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea and Inspector General Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said these reports do not give a “clear picture of the situation.”
“Number one, the conflict in the Middle East is regional in nature, involving the Gulf States, Iran, US, and Israel,” he stressed, adding that the Philippines is not a party to the conflict.
Trinidad, for point number two, clarified that EDCA sites are Philippine bases and not American ones.
“(And) number three, activities on our EDCA sites are (meant) to strengthen the defense capability of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and our HADR (humanitarian assistance and disaster response) capability,” he said.
Likewise, the Navy official said Iran’s most powerful missile systems, which have an estimated range of around 2,500 km., do not have the capability to reach Southeast Asia.
Air distance between the Philippines and Iran is between 7,182 km. and 7,675 km.
“Wala pong katotohanan na ito ay maging target, posibleng maging target ng Iran sapagkat napakalayo ang kanilang pinakamalakas na missile system, hindi aabot sa Southeast Asia,” Trinidad noted.
Signed in 2014, EDCA provides for Filipino and American soldiers to train together and enables US troops to build facilities and preposition supplies and equipment inside strategically located bases in the country.
There are nine EDCA sites across the country: 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 Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.
