PAMPANGA, Philippines 鈥� Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba will now conform with the national government鈥檚 decision to build an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) site in his province, Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said here on Monday.
Mamba earlier expressed worries about installing the Edca facility in his province, stressing that the United States should not use the country, which he said is only after its interests in Taiwan.
READ: 聽Galvez pitches Edca to LGUs聽
鈥淲e have already talked to Governor Mamba 鈥� and he said that for as long as the national government has decided, he will abide with the decision of the President, and I told him that we have already decided, so he will conform with the decision,鈥� Galvez said in a press conference in Basa Air Base in Floridablanca town.
Mamba, in response, said the decision on Edca lies with the President, but he maintained his opposition to the agreement.
鈥淚t is the President鈥檚 call but I maintain my stand against any foreign forces stationed in my province. Still against Edca sites in my province,鈥� Mamba told 黑料社 in a text message on Monday.
Galvez also said that 鈥渁lmost all of the mayors鈥� in Cagayan supported Edca, saying he was happy that the local chief executives 鈥渞espect the President.鈥�
鈥淎lmost all of the mayors signify their intentions to support Edca. In fact, all of the mayors of Cagayan, I can show you the resolution of the different mayors that they love to have Edca sites in their area,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e are so happy that the local leaders are very amenable and they respect so much the President, considering that the President聽 enjoys much popular support,鈥� he continued.
The coastal province of Cagayan in the northern Philippines is about 600 kilometers away from Taiwan.
Aside from Cagayan, military officials have also named Zambales, Isabela, and Palawan as possible sites.
The聽Edca聽was signed by two countries in 2014 to address Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea and respond to natural disasters.
READ: 聽Military names 5 more Edca sites聽
Edca聽is part of the country鈥檚 Mutual Defense Treaty鈥檚 (MDT) commitments, according to Galvez.
Signed by two parties on August 30, 1951, the MDT states that both countries would support each other if an external party attacked the Philippines or the United States.
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