Construction of US military facility in Aurora ongoing
The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) in Casiguran, Aurora is continuously being transformed into a facility for the US military and American defense companies. APECO is undergoing changes despite not being an “agreed location” under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), and being a civilian facility. The construction of US military facilities is being disguised as civilian infrastructure or facilities for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
In 2019, the Duterte administration agreed with the US to construct a military port in Casiguran, supposedly for the Philippine Navy’s use. Called the Casiguran Port Construction Project, it was worth ₱1.3 billion.
Concurrently, the US is involved in the airport’s development within the economic zone. In 2020, the US was reportedly interested in building a drone base inside the facility as part of its efforts to strengthen its presence in the region.
Casiguran is located on the country’s eastern part, facing the vast Pacific Ocean. The US considers not only Aurora but also the islands beyond its coast as strategic locations. One of these islands is Fuga Island, 130 nautical miles from the Casiguran coast, is being used by the US as a staging ground for its war games in the country’s territorial waters.
The development of the port and airport aligns with the US plan to turn the 1,300-hectare economic zone into a “logistics hub.” In September, APECO was formally declared a “national defense hub” that can be used to position troops, materiel, and communication systems. Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert Teodoro also said that the AFP plans to build a military camp within the zone.
At the same time, the American company Newark had reportedly been tapped to further develop the port in preparation for Ametrican defense companies’ entry into APECO. One of these companies is Anglicotech, a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman, which currently operates in Subic Bay, a former and current base of US troops.
APECO was built on ancestral and agricultural lands. It displaced the indigenous Dumagat and Agta communities who once lived and thrived in the area.