By Frances Mangosing
INQURER.net
3:29 pm | Friday, May 2nd, 2014
AP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine government is eyeing three to five military bases to serve as facilities to be used by American troops under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
“It will not be the whole universe of the [Armed Forces of the Philippines] bases, right now the discussions would be ranging from three to five AFP bases, that’s not the final but that is the starting discussion point,” said Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino, Chairman of the Philippine Negotiating Panel on Friday.
Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija was identified as one of the camps considered by both panels.
The camp is the largest in the Philippines, and it houses the Army’s 7th Infantry Division and the Special Operations Command. Both countries usually hold joint drills here, including the Balikatan exercises.
Batino described it as “an ideal location,” but said it is still for recommendation and subject to approval.
He declined to identify the rest of the camps under consideration as the discussions are still ongoing.
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Tags: Armed Forces of the Philippines , Balikatan , EDCA , Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement , Military Bases
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