The Philippine Supreme Court on Tuesday declared legal a defense agreement that the country signed in 2014 with the United States.
The accord, which had never been implemented, passed judicial review in a 10-4 vote after the high court ruled that the government of President Benigno Aquino didn’t require prior legislative consent.
When the agreement was signed, President Obama said that the agreement would grant the US military “greater access to Filipino facilities, airfields and ports, which would remain under the control of the Philippines.” It is part of his strategic, Pacific-oriented “pivot to Asia” strategy.
One of the president’s fiercest critics on national security matters welcomed Tuesday’s decision.
“This landmark agreement between the United States and the Philippines will bring our alliance to a level of cooperation and integration that we have not witnessed in decades,” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said.
“As Manila finds itself the target of Chinese coercion in the West Philippine Sea and is looking to Washington for leadership, this agreement will give us new tools to deepen our alliance with the Philippines, expand engagement with the Philippine Armed Forces, and enhance our presence in Southeast Asia,” he added.
The agreement had been challenged by “groups opposed to US military involvement in the Philippines, a US colony from 1898 to 1946,” AFP noted.
“The Philippines hosted two of the largest overseas US military bases until 1992, following a Filipino Senate vote to end their leases that was influenced by anti-US sentiment,” the wire service added.
