Ben Tiu Contreras, an anti-war advocate, strongly opposed the plan to establish a naval base inside the Phividec Industrial Authority in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.
In an interview with Bombo Radyo, Contreras warned that building such a military facility would effectively turn the Philippines into a “launching pad” for U.S. conflicts against China.
He stressed that this is the underlying purpose of all Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites and U.S. military bases worldwide—using smaller nations as staging grounds for war.
Contreras rejected the idea of adding another facility that could be utilized during armed conflict, saying it risks dragging the Philippines into international disputes.
While he opposes any form of global warfare, he argued it would be better for the U.S. to confront China directly rather than involving the Philippines in their geopolitical rivalry.
