CAGAYAN DE ORO — A multisectoral alliance decried the series of activities in the country involving US military forces amid continuing tensions in West Asia.

From the arrival of US soldiers and assets in Cagayan de Oro, the transport of these assets to Luzon ahead of the largest Balikatan exercise this year, and the plan to establish a US military oil depot in Mindanao, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said that the Marcos Jr. administration is trying to turn the country into “one big US military base.”

“Marcos is increasingly turning our islands into a war playground for US troops and its allies,” Bayan said in a statement.

According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), these activities fell under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippine and US governments.

The Philippine Army based in Cagayan de Oro earlier said that the arrival of US soldiers in the city was for the scheduled joint military exercise and had nothing to do with the ongoing conflict.

The International League of Peoples’ Struggles (ILPS) Philippines stressed that the continuing implementation of EDCA is alarming because it makes the country a potential target of US enemies.

Last month, the reported arrival of a US Navy vessel at the Cagayan de Oro Port offloaded military assets, according to a report by the US Naval Institute News. This was reportedly the first time that it happened in Mindanao.

These assets, including military trucks, were reportedly transported for disembarkation in Subic, Zambales, ahead of this year’s Balikatan, the US-Philippine bilateral exercise to strengthen regional security.

Bayan said that the country should not be reliant on the US for national security, considering its acts of aggression in the Iran conflict.

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The group stressed that it would be absurd for the national government to pursue the Balikatan exercise given the socio-economic crisis faced by Filipinos amid the rising cost of petroleum products caused by the continuing war. “[We] assert the importance and necessity of pursuing a truly independent foreign policy,” Bayan said. (DAA)

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