Philippines urged Japan to include 'respect for IP rights' in military deal — Teodoro

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told senators on Monday, November 25, that the Philippines pushed for and secured environmental and indigenous peoples' rights protections in its newly signed military access agreement with Japan.

The Reciprocal Access Agreement, which establishes a legal framework for the Philippines and Japan to deploy military personnel to each other's territory, has 29 articles in total, Teodoro said during a hearing by the Senate foreign relations committee.

"Article 20 is a new article which was insisted on by the Philippine side and acceded to by Japan, which mandates environmental protection and respect for cultural and indigenous people's rights," Teodoro said in his opening statement.

The DND chief did not elaborate on the exact wording of Article 20 or how the two countries' representatives negotiated its inclusion.

Environmental and human rights groups have previously accused the Philippine military of being involved in the harassment and threats against environmental defenders. 

In September, international rights group Global Witness reported that the Philippines remained the deadliest country in Asia for environmental defenders in 2023, with 17 documented killings. 

Several of these cases involved indigenous peoples defending ancestral domains against mining and logging operations, with reports alleging military presence in these areas.

The Commission on Human Rights has previously noted the military's killing of the country's top botanist, Leonard Co, during an operation in Leyte in 2010. In a statement in 2022, the human rights body said Co's death shows the "precarious situation of environmentalists in rural areas where armed conflict occurs." 

No basing. Besides the provision on protecting environmental and indigenous people's rights, Teodoro said the 29-article defense pact mainly focuses on joint training, technology exchange, and improving military capabilities.

Teodoro emphasized that the RAA does not violate constitutional restrictions, stating: "Article 4 states clearly that it is not a military-basing agreement, which is prohibited under our laws."

"We view this agreement as part and parcel of our