Duterte carefully weighing VFA reconsideration

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte is carefully weighing the possible reconsideration of the Philippines’ Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States (US), Malacañang said on Tuesday.

This, after Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said the US’ aid package to the Philippines would be enough to satisfy Duterte.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, in a virtual press conference, said Duterte also has to consider the possibility that Filipinos’ lives might be jeopardized in case a war between the US and China, both allies of the Philippines, emerge.

“Kaya nga po tinitimbang niyang mabuti kung sapat ba iyang mga military hardware na iyan doon sa ibubuwis natin pagdating sa mga buhay ng ating mga mamamayang Pilipino (That’s why he is carefully weighing whether the US’ military hardware is enough in the event that Filipinos’ lives are put at stake),” Roque said.

Romualdez on March 5 announced that the Pentagon had sent to the Philippines an inventory of arms and military hardware it can provide to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The country’s envoy added that more arms and hardware from the US are also coming.

‘Right’ decision

Roque was confident that Duterte would make a “right decision” when it comes to VFA’s fate.

“Hayaan po natin siyang gumawa ng tamang desisyon. Dahil kaya naman po natin siya hinalal bilang president ay dahil nagtitiwala tayo na tama ang kaniyang magiging desisyon (Let him make the right decision. We elected him as our president because we trust him to make the right decision),” he said.

Duterte on Feb. 28 said he would order the immediate termination of VFA once he receives “hard information” about American troops bringing nuclear armaments into the country.

Four days prior to his latest pronouncement, Duterte sought public input on VFA, as he admitted that he remained “undecided” on the fate of the controversial military pact between Manila and Washington.

Deciding ‘in due course’

Roque said Duterte is aware that the country needs more military weapons.

Despite this, Duterte still wants to hear the public’s opinion regarding the VFA, Roque said.

“Pero ang desisyon kung talagang mananatili ang VFA ay desisyon na tanging ang Pangulo lang po ang pupuwedeng gumawa (But the decision on the VFA’s status will come only from the President),” he said.

Quizzed as to when Duterte would decide on VFA’s fate, Roque said: “In due course po. Huwag nating i-pressure ang Presidente (It will be in due course. Let us not pressure the President).”

On Feb. 11, 2020, Duterte revoked the VFA, a 1998 military deal signed by Manila and Washington which allows American troops to join military drills in the Philippines sans the need to secure passport and visa.

The VFA was supposed to be effectively abrogated in August last year, but Duterte on June 1 of the same year ordered the suspension of VFA termination for six months because of “political and other developments in the region.”

The Philippines extended in November last year the suspension of VFA termination for another six months.