SENATORS are poised to review President Duterte’s reported plan to allow Japanese naval forces to conduct joint patrols in Philippine territorial waters to determine if the agreement should be submitted for Senate ratification.
Speaking to reporters before flying home from Japan on Thursday night, Duterte disclosed that top Japanese leaders he met during his State visit agreed to deploy naval assets for joint patrols with the Philippine Navy.
Duterte confirmed that he discussed the planned Philippines-Japan joint patrols with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, but gave no further details.
Senate Majority Leader Vicente C. Sotto III, however, invoked the 1987 Constitution, which provides that no foreign troops, bases or facilities shall be allowed in any part of Philippine territory except under a treaty duly ratified by the Senate.
“Because of existing constitutional prohibitions, the only way to enter into such an agreement involving military actions with Japan or any other country, for that matter, is to frame a treaty and seek the approval of the Senate,” Sotto, who also chairs the Senate Rules Committee, told the BusinessMirror.
However, Sen. Richard J. Gordon said that, while the Senate is well within its oversight power to review the naval arrangement with Japan, he does not see it going through the requirement of Senate ratification before it could be enforced.
“It is not a basing arrangement,” Gordon said, adding: “It is just part of the exercise of police power by the State to protect our country from foreign intrusion and piracy.”
In the wake of increasing Chinese intrusions at the West Philippine Sea, Gordon asserted, “it is inherent in a nation to have security arrangements with other countries to protect our borders and prevent piracy.”
He added that the Constitution’s requirement for Senate ratification of foreign troop presence in in any part of Philippine territory “applies to stationing of troops.”
Still, he supported Sotto’s suggestion for the Senate to conduct hearings to review the joint Philippines-Japan patrol arrangements forged by Duterte with Japan’s leaders.
“We can ask questions during the the Senate hearings, find out what it means to us,” Gordon added.