(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Malacañang is ready to defend the legality of the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) before the Supreme Court as labour groups filed another petition challenging the Philippines' security deal with the United State
"The position taken by this government is we believe that it is constitutional, so we are prepared to defend the EDCA before the Supreme Court," presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a radio interview yesterda
The Philippines and the US signed the EDCA last April in a move widely seen as an effort to counter China's aggressive expansion in the region
Officials claim that the 10-year deal will help upgrade the Philippine military
The agreement will allow the US to build temporary facilities and to store equipment in Philippine military bases. Officials are now determining what bases will be covered by the agreement.
Earlier, the Kilusang Mayo Uno and the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement (Courage) called for the scrapping of EDCA, saying it violated constitutional provisions on national sovereignty, territorial integrity and interests, freedom from nuclear weapons and autonomy of local government units
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