Headline
PH, US preparing alternative to VFA: envoy
VFA ALTERNATIVE. Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez gives updates on the bilateral relation between Manila and Washington D.
C. following the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) during the “Forum on Post-VFA: PH-US Alliance Quo Vadis?”, at the Makati Diamond Residences on Friday (Feb.
28, 2020). Romualdez said they are looking at the country’s agreement with Japan and Australia as a template for the new deal replacing the VFA. (PNA photo by Kris Crismundo)
MANILA – Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said Manila and Washington D.C. are now in talks to come up with an agreement in lieu of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
“We are now in the process of trying to find ways – that means to be able to see how we can either come up with something similar, perhaps again, still following President’s (Rodrigo Duterte) thinking about the sovereignty issue,” Romualdez said during a forum hosted by Stratbase ADR Institute in Makati City.
He said they are looking at the country’s agreement with Japan and Australia as a template for the new deal replacing the VFA.
“We probably will have something maybe within the next two or three months, maybe as we continue our conversations with our friends in Washington D.C., and also how Ambassador (Sung) Kim will let us know what the feeling is at this time,” he added.
The envoy said the government has to look into continuing the presence of US Special Forces in Mindanao because of the security situation in the southern part of the country.
Once both sides crafted the new deal, it will be presented to the President, Romualdez said.
“It’s unfortunate that the President has decided not to attend the (US-Asean) summit in Las Vegas to be able to have a face-to-face meeting with President Trump. And that would have been an opportunity for him to be able to really discuss this,” he said.
He added that Duterte is prepared to speak to anyone from the US government who will come to the country.
“But bear in mind that the VFA is not really the end-all and beyond.
I think there are many other relationships that we can work outside of this VFA,” Romualdez said.
He noted that the relationship between the Philippines and the US will continue despite many challenges in the past.
“Any country around the world will agree that the United States is a major country that no one can ignore, including China. So, with that in mind, we continue to forge ahead with the kind of relationship that we’re trying to develop, considering all of these things that are happening,” Romualdez said.
Early this month, Duterte ordered the termination of the military pact. It is deemed revoked in six months after the US government received the notice from the Philippine government last February 11.
