MANILA – The Philippines has formally terminated the two decades-old Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.
Panelo said Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has signed and sent the termination letter to the US Embassy last week, marking the start of the 180-day period from when the military pact will be scrapped.
“The President directed the Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to tell Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin of the Foreign Affairs to send a notice of termination to the US government last night and the Executive Secretary sent the message to Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin and the latter signed the notice of termination… and sent to the US government today,” Panelo said in a media briefing on Tuesday.
“From what I read from the agreement, there’s no need for US to respond to the termination,” he added. “Effectivity of the VFA termination would be 180 days from the receipt of the notice by the US government.”
The formal termination of the VFA came a day after President Rodrigo Duterte said that he thumbed down American President Donald Trump’s attempt to salvage the military agreement.
“I’ll make it public. Si Trump and others are trying to save the Visiting Forces Agreement. Sabi ko ayaw ko. Napakabastos ng Amerikano. Talagang sobrang bastos,” Duterte said in a speech on Monday night.
President Duterte has earlier ordered the termination of VFA due to US senators demand the release from detention of opposition senator Leila De Lima; US Senate resolution condemning drug war; amendment to US budget barring entry of PH officials linked to De Lima’s arrest; and cancellation of Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa’s US visa.
Panelo, meanwhile, said that the Philippines is not closing its doors on engaging military agreement with other countries but President Duterte is inclined not to rely on other nations for strengthening the military defense.
“One country has already offered to enter into another agreement. As the President said, it is about time that we rely on our own resources,” Panelo said. “Basta may mutual benefits, we are open… But the President said we will strengthen our own defenses and not rely on other countries.”
Ratified by the Philippine Senate in 1999, the VFA allowed US troops to train and advise the Philippine military in disaster response and anti-terrorist operations, but banned US forces from participating in combat operations./PN
