By GERALD LEIGH LAQUINON
Correspondent
RELIGIOUS leaders on Tuesday expressed alarm over the recent pronouncement of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte that his administration would continue with the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca).
A local alliance is being organized to spearhead protest actions against the Edca.
In a statement, the Ecumenical Bishops Forum (EBF) and progressive groups in northern Mindanao opposed the military agreement between the US and the Philippine government which permits the hosting of American troops especially at the former Lumbia commercial Airport.
Lumbia airport, the headquarters of the Philippine Air Force’s Tactical Operations Group-10, is among five military bases set for rotational deployment of American troops under Edca.
Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) Bishop Rudy Juliada said Edca “poses a great challenge to all of us freedom-loving Filipinos, especially Kagay-anon, as we are now being obliged to host the American troops in our backyard.”
The bishop warned of a repeat of sad experiences at the former Subic and Clark US military bases in Cagayan de Oro because of the agreement.
“We are soon to face another wave of issues of prostitution, violence against women and children, toxic wastes, including security threats, in case of invasion by the enemies of the United States,” said Juliada.
Bishop Melzar Labuntog of the Ecumenical Bishops Forum (EBF) in Northwest Mindanao, a fellowship of bishops and church leaders, will also host a forum on the updates of US Global Empire, Edca, and the People’s Fight for Sovereignty.
The forum will take place in the morning of June 4 at Philtown Hotel here. The keynote speaker would be University of the Philippines professor Roland Simbulan.
“In such educational gathering, we will form a regional multisectoral and interfaith alliance against Edca and US military facility at the Lumbia airport,” said Labuntog.
“Patriotiko Northern Mindanao” would be formed in the event.
Also, around 5,000 protesters are expected to stage rally in Cagayan de Oro on the same day, June 4, to denounce the controversial agreement. Delegations from General Santos, Davao, Caraga, Region 10 and West Mindanao are also expected to attend.
The protest action would coincide with the 116th anniversary of Battle of Makahambus Hill where local revolutionary heroes led by the late Col. Apolinar Velez won over the American aggressors during the Philippine-American War in 1900.
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