Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Arlene Brosas today denounced the presence of US military surveillance operations in Mindanao following the crash of a US Department of Defense contracted aircraft in Maguindanao del Sur, calling it a clear violation of Philippine sovereignty.

“The crash incident has exposed the alarming truth about unauthorized US military surveillance activities in Mindanao. These operations, along with the presence of military contractors, represent a serious breach of our national sovereignty. Panghihimasok ito ng US sa ating internal affairs,” Rep. Brosas stated.

She pointed out that these operations are being conducted under the guise of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which have effectively turned parts of Mindanao into unofficial US military outposts.

“We demand full transparency about these surveillance operations and call for an immediate congressional inquiry. Hindi dapat payagan ng gobyerno ang mga dayuhang pwersa na mag-surveillance sa ating teritoryo,” Brosas questioned.

Gabriela Women’s Party calls for the immediate termination of the VFA, EDCA, and other unequal military agreements that compromise Philippine sovereignty and make our territories vulnerable to foreign military intervention.

“These military agreements have only served to strengthen US military presence in the Philippines while undermining our national sovereignty,” Brosas asserted.

“In light of these developments, we will be filing a House Resolution calling for an investigation on these unauthorized US surveillance operations and the presence of military contractors in Mindanao. Hindi pwedeng hayaan na lang natin ang ganitong lantarang panghihimasok sa ating teritoryo,” she concluded.