MANILA, Philippines- Sa botong 19 pabor, walang tumutol at abstention, inaprubahan ng Senado sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa ang panukalang Senate Resolution 1248 partikular ang PH-Japan Reciprocal Access Agreement na magbibigay ng dagdag seguridad sa bansa.
Alinsunod sa itinakda ng Saligang Batas, kailangang ratipikahin ng Senado ang Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) sa pagitan ng pwersa ng Pilipinas at Japan.
Tumagal nang hindi hihigit sa isang buwan pagkatapos magsagawa ng pagdinig ang Senate Committee on Foreign Relations sa landmark defense agreement.
Nilagdaan ang landmark military agreement sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at Japan noong Hulyo 8 ni Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro at Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko.
Nakatakda sa Article VII, Section 21 ng 1987 Constitution na nagsasabing “no treaty or international agreement shall be valid and effective unless concurred in by at least two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate.”
“The Agreement outlines the provisions on entry and departure, movement, access to facilities, and professional practice of the visiting force and civilian component for the purpose of cooperative activities, as well as the rules governing the jurisdiction over the actions of the Visiting Force and Civilian Component,” ayon sa resolusyon.
Nakatakda sa resolusyon na: “The agreement aimed to “deepen the security and defense cooperation between the Philippines and Japan, and enhance the interoperability between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Self-Defense Forces of Japan by enabling more in-depth practical military cooperation and exercises between both countries.”
“The Agreement will expand the defense cooperation of the Philippines and Japan in the maritime domain amid shared security challenges… ratifying the Agreement further affirms the strategic partnership between the two countries and their mutual goal to enhance contribution to regional and international peace, security, and stability,” dagdag ng dokumento.
Pinuri nina Senador Juan Miguel Zubiri, Loren Legarda, at Joel Villanueva ang pagpasa ng resolusyon
“I trust that this Agreement strengthens our nation’s security and reinforces our regional partnerships at a time when collaboration is crucial,” ani Legarda.
“This legal framework before us today is a reinforcement of our commitment to enhance confidence-building measures that effectively alleviate tensions, proactively prevent disputes, and mitigate escalation of ongoing disputes in the Asia-Pacific region,” patuloy niya.
Giit naman ni Villanueva: “The Senate concurrence to the ratification of the RAA “further solidifies our commitment to promote regional and global peace and stability, and deepens our security and defense relationship.” Ernie Reyes
