Lorenzana: Mutual Defense Treaty with US could be scrapped

The 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the United States could be scrapped if it remains a vague document, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Tuesday.

Lorenzana said that the MDT, a pact wherein both parties agree to conduct joint military exercises and to act to meet common dangers in accordance with their constitutional processes, was inked at a time when US bases were still in the Philippines.

The MDT also states that an armed attack on either of the parties is deemed to include an armed attack on the metropolitan territory of either of the parties, or on the island territories under its jurisdiction in the Pacific or on its armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific.

“The MDT was signed in 1951. At that time, there are many US bases here, including that in Sangley point, in Clark, Subic, in Mactan, Cebu, and even in Mindanao. The MDT should have been reviewed when they [US bases] left because remember, China began encroaching our EEZ [exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea] when they [Americans] already left...they started occupying Mischief Reef in 1994,” Lorenzana said in an exclusive interview with GMA News' resident political analyst Richard Heydarian for GMA News Online's FYI.

“Wala na kayo rito. Ano [ang] covered nitong MDT? Kung dapat na i-review itong MDT noong 1991, more so now, kasi naiba na ang security architecture ng buong mundo. That [scrapping of MDT] is an option, that is an option, that is an option. Kasi dapat klaruhin natin kung ano ba talaga [ang sakop],” Lorenzana added.

It was in September 1991 when the Philippine Senate voted to oust the US bases, citing measly compensation package from the Americans and breaches of Philippine sovereignty.

“Nag-gigiriian sila [Americans] ng mga Chinese diyan sa South China Sea. Eh kung magputukan, kasama tayo because of MDT, higop tayo diyan. Ano ang definition ng metropolitan? Baka municipal waters lang na ganyan,” Lorenzana said.

“Eh paano 'yung reefs and shores? 'Yung Malampaya?” he added.

The MDT, however, does not have a provision for a review.

Under the MDT, the Treaty will remain in force indefinitely and “either Party may terminate it one year after notice has been given to the other Party.”

Lorenzana admitted that there is no timeline as to when the supposed review will happen.

“We'll see. I have talked to Foreign Affairs Secretary [Teddy Boy Locsin]; our legal [team] is looking at the MDT, and later on we will contact our [American] counterparts,” Lorenzana said.

The Defense chief had earlier indicated the need to review the treaty to find out whether to "maintain it, strengthen it, or scrap it." — BM, GMA News