Amid rising tensions in West Asia, residents of Cagayan de Oro expressed concern after photos circulated online showing United States soldiers in civilian clothes arriving at Lumbia Air Base, Southern Philippines.
The Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division confirmed the presence of US personnel but said there was no cause for alarm, explaining that the deployment was part of joint military exercises between Philippine and American forces.
However, the Philippine chapter of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS) said the arrival of US troops remains deeply concerning and renewed its opposition to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the United States.
“By opening Philippine military facilities to American forces, the Marcos Jr. regime is effectively transforming the country into a forward operating base for US military power in the Asia-Pacific and beyond,” said Arnold Padilla, spokesperson of ILPS Philippines, in a statement.
Lumbia Air Base—formerly the city’s airport—is one of nine locations designated as EDCA sites across the country and the only one located in Mindanao.
Under the agreement, US forces are allowed not only to conduct joint training exercises but also to store equipment and maintain vessels, as well as pre-position supplies and military materials in designated facilities.
ILPS Philippines warned that these provisions could enable the United States to use the sites for surveillance operations or logistical support for military campaigns.
Local reports also said that a US Navy ship arrived at the port of Cagayan de Oro on March 15. The Philippine Air Force said the presence of US troops in the city is expected to continue until the end of the month.
Former Bayan Muna representative Carlos Isagani Zarate criticized the growing presence of American troops, saying it undermines the country’s sovereignty and intensifies militarization, particularly in Mindanao.
“[It] undermines Philippine sovereignty and deepens the militarization of our country, particularly in Mindanao,” Zarate said, adding that genuine national security should not depend on foreign troops or expanded militarization.
The multisectoral alliance Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) also warned that EDCA exposes the Philippines to potential danger, arguing that the nine EDCA sites could become targets for rivals of the United States, including China, amid ongoing disputes in the West Philippine Sea.
In an earlier statement, Bayan said the United States is using tensions between the Philippines and China to maintain and expand its military presence in the country. “We don’t want China’s bases on artificial islands, and we don’t want US bases in our provinces,” the group said.
The National Security Council has maintained that EDCA sites remain under the control of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Bayan, however, argues that the arrangement effectively allows the US a permanent foothold.
“The so-called rotational deployment effectively means permanent presence,” the group said, adding that EDCA facilities may be described as temporary but ultimately remain as long as the US decides to maintain them.
ILPS Philippines called on Filipinos to oppose EDCA and other military agreements with Washington, warning that these could turn the Philippines into a “launching pad” for future wars.
