MANILA – Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said President Rodrigo Duterte’s order for the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States (US) was a “studied decision,” and it was not done to “appease China.”
“It is a tactical and strategical decision by the President. His decision is mainly based on the actions of the US government, with respect to the US Senate and the US Immigration and not meant to appease China,” Panelo said on Jan. 30.
He added Duterte’s order to terminate the VFA was due to the demand of releasing opposition Sen. Leila de Lima; the US Senate resolution condemning the drug war; the amendment to US budget barring entry of Philippine officials linked to de Lima’s arrest; and the cancellation of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa’s US visa.
“Mas gusto ni Presidente na tignan natin ang ating kakayahan, palakasin ang kakayahan natin,” he said. “By relying mainly on one particular country, you lessen your capability from that moment your alliance with that country is terminated.”
Meanwhile, Duterte on Wednesday said the VFA termination was “not a joke” and was “not made in haste.”
“I am terminating the VFA. I was not joking. The day I said it was the day that I decided it should be terminated,” Duterte added.
“It started when they mentioned about the resolution in the US Senate. They were trying to figure out who would be the persons who will be barred from entering. Noon pa lang, ‘yung utak ko gumagalaw na. Ganoon ako. Hindi naman ako naghihintay. I just announced late,” he said.
Having signed the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty as allies, the American troops are obliged to help defend the Philippines if it comes under attack. An attack against Philippine armed forces, public vessels or aircraft also falls under its obligations in the treaty.
Aside from the VFA, the countries also inked the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which allows US troops to have greater access to Philippine bases and presence in the country.
The Philippine government has to tell the US in writing that it wants to end the treaty. The agreement will remain in force for 180 days after the notice was sent./PN
