A Davao City councilor backed on Tuesday the statement of the City Government of Davao on any plan to build foreign military facilities within the jurisdiction of Davao City.
“The City Government does not welcome and will oppose any plan to build foreign military facilities in Davao City,” was the City Government of Davao official statement issued on April 14, 2026.
“If nay plano we will not welcome it and we will oppose it especially if these facilities will not help alleviate the living conditions of the people dili ni makatabang sa pagkunhod sa presyo sa petrolyo ug dili ni makatabang sa pag cushion sa impact sa nahitabong gubot sa Middle East, dili tana supportahan (If there are plans, we will not welcome them and we will oppose them—especially if these facilities will not help improve the living conditions of the people; it will not help lower fuel prices, nor it will they cushion the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East–we will not support it.),” Davao City Information Officer Acting Head Harvey Lanticse further explained in a statement April 16, 2026.
SP Chair on Human Rights Committee Pamela Librado-Morata, in a privilege speech Tuesday expressed alignment with the city’s stand expressing strong and unequivocal opposition to any military oil depot in the Davao Region, which construction has been opened for bidding by the United states, according to reports.
She said that the military oil depot is more than just an infrastructure as it would be a strategic military installation. Allowing this would turn the Philippines into a proxy staging ground for foreign conflicts.
“If we allow facilities like this oil depot to take root, we risk becoming a logistical base for foreign military intervention – a silent partner in wars that displace communities, destroy livelihoods, and violate human rights,” she said.
She said that being an extension of any foreign military intervention poses danger as it involves us to a war that could affect the lives of many.
“Dili nato tugotan nga ang Pilipinas mahimong proxy sa mga gyera sa mga dagkong nasod. Bisan wala kita’y apil sa gyera nga giapilan sa US, mahimo kitang target kung kita mahimong refueling hub. Napamatud-an na kini sa mga nasud sama sa Qatar, UAE, Iraq, ug Kuwait – nga giapil sa mga target tungod sa ilang pag-host sa mga pasilidad militar sa Estados Unidos (We should not allow the Philippines to become a proxy of a war by big countries. Even if we are not part of that war. This is already proven by other countries such as Qatar, UAE, Iraq, and Kuwai- countries that are targeted because of hosting military facilities of the US),” she said.
“We are told that this oil depot will enhance our defense by becoming a deterrence. In truth, fuel depots are magnets of conflict and war. Kung mahimo target ang atong lugar, ang unang maapektohan mao ang ordinaryong katawhan (Once our area is targeted, ordinary citizens are the first ones to be affected),” she added
Librado also said that the proposal is insensitive because according to reports the US is eyeing this depot to supply millions of gallons of fuel annually while our people face a national energy crisis.
“Samtang ang katawhan naglisod sa kamahal ug kakulang sa produktong petrolyo, ang gobyerno motugot og depot para sa military sa usa ka langyaw nga nasud nga mo-imbak og lana para sa gera (While our people are facing crisis due to the increased prices of oil, the government is allowing depot for the military of a foreign country to store oil for war),” she said.
Librado said that this also poses serious constitutional concerns, undermining our independent foreign policy as a country that puts our sovereignty and national interest as paramount.
“The Philippines must uphold a policy of neutrality and independence. We must not host foreign military bases – US or otherwise – on our soil, nor allow our territory to be used as a platform for any foreign power’s war. Our land must serve the Filipino people, not foreign military interests,” she said.
She said that as representatives of the people, it is their duty to ensure that their interests are not ignored.
“As representative of the people, we are duty-bound to ensure that their interests are not ignored. Because of all these, and in my capacity as Chair of the Committee on Labor and Employment Opportunities and Chair of the Committee on Human Rights, I express my strong and unequivocal opposition to any military oil depot in the Davao Region,” she said.
She also enjoined the 21st Davao City council to pass a resolution expressing collective opposition to any move that undermines the security of Dabawenyos and the sovereignty of the nation.
“Depensahan nato ang atong yuta, ang atong soberanyda, katungod og kaugmaon (We must defend our soil, our sovereignty, our rights, and our future),” Librado said. CIO
Written by: K.Cañedo
Edited by: A.Nawal