Senate adopts resolution asking President to reconsider VFA termination
Credit to Author: THE MANILA TIMES| Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2020 13:37:27 +0000
THE Senate on Monday adopted a resolution urging President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider his plan to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States.
Senate Resolution 312, introduced by Senate President Vicente Sotto 3rd, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Sen. Panfilo Lacson, was adopted with one abstention — Sen. Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa.
Duterte reiterated his call to abrogate the VFA between Manila and Washington after the US the visa of dela Rosa was canceled.
But senators asserted that the decision to terminate the agreement must be reviewed seriously such that it will not affect the security and economy of the Philippines and its neighbors in the Asia Pacific region.
They urged the President to reconsider his plan to terminate the VFA while the Senate is conducting a thorough review of the agreement.
“Fully recognizing the authority of the Chief Executive and without intending to disrespect a co-equal body, prior to unilaterally terminating the VFA, the Senate should be given the opportunity to conduct a review and assessment of the impact of the withdrawal on the country’s security and economy, specifically with regard to intelligence information sharing, military aid and financing and technical assistance extended by the US relative to the continuing threats posed by domestic and foreign terrorist groups, and ultimately to the stability and security in the Asia Pacific region,” the resolution said.
Sen. Aquilino Pimentel 3rd, sponsored SR 312 as chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. He quoted Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. who said during a public hearing that “the termination of the VFA must be weighed in terms of the overall interest of the country.”
In the same hearing, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told senators that the US donated $1.3 billion to the Philippines’ defense since 1998. The biggest donation was made in 2017 when the US gave the Philippines $217 million.
“In relation to this, it was also noted that the VFA that we have with Australia is more equitable to us than that of the US and may be replicated or serve as a basis for renegotiation of our VFA with the US for future VFAs,” Pimentel said.
“Therefore, a careful deliberation of these matters must be taken into account before finally arriving at a decision which will ultimately affect the security and economy of the Philippines but also that of our neighboring countries in the Asia Pacific region,” he added.
Sotto said that international relations are essential for the cooperation between nations, promotion of successful trade policies, advancement of human culture as well as the maintenance of the peace and order for the country’s stability.
“In a developing country like ours, it is more beneficial and prudent to maintain if not gain allies than to challenge our status quo. Our country is currently benefiting from our partner states which include the United States of America,” Sotto said.
“It is my view that the better way to go is to review the agreement and ask the executive department to reconsider its intent of abrogation while the Senate, who is a partner in this agreement, is reviewing it,” he added.
Late on Monday, Duterte said that President Donald Trump and “others” attempted to dissuade him from scrapping the VFA.
“I’ll make it public because public official ako. Si Trump pati ‘yung others are trying to save the Visiting Forces Agreement. Sabi ko ayaw ko (Trump and others are trying to save the VFA. I told them I don’t want to),” he said during a meeting with local chief executives in Pasay City.
“Napakabastos ng Amerikano. Imagine demanding the release of [Sen. Leila] de Lima and their threat that we will not receive aid and that all persons who had a hand in the imprisonment of de Lima will not be allowed to go to the United States. Ano bang nasa Amerika ganunin mo ako (What’s in America that you should treat me like that?)” he added.
“Sobra sila kung um-insulto kasi (They insult too much). Bordering on the thrashing of our sovereignty. Sumobra e (it’s too much), so somebody has to remind them”, he added.
Bernadette E. Tamayo and Reina Tolentino