Recall of VFA abrogation reinforces PH-US ties: solons

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to recall the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States will be beneficial to all parties, given the current “uncertain and challenging” international political environment that is aggravated by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, in a statement on Friday, welcomed the continuation of the VFA and emphasized the need to maintain strong ties with the US.

“We hope this development will be the start of a closer and more cordial relationship between the Philippines and its long-time ally,” Velasco said.

House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez said retracting the VFA termination would definitely help strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

“We should welcome all efforts to shore up relations with other countries, especially with our allies, as only through global cooperation can we survive from this world-wide crisis,” Romualdez said.

“More than ever, we need partnership and collaboration with our brother-nations so that we may be able to withstand all threats that our country face right now and in the future,” the Leyte solon added.

Muntinlupa Representative Ruffy Biazon, vice chair of the Committee on National Defense, likewise hailed President Duterte’s decision following the visit of US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III.

“It is assumed that Secretary Austin conveyed the Biden administration’s commitment to standing by the Philippines for mutual interest and benefit, particularly on security issues, hence the President’s redirection of his policy on the PH-US defense agreement,” Biazon said.

Mutual interests

Biazon noted that Philippine defense and security interests will surely benefit in the continuing cooperation with the US.

“This bilateral cooperation between the Philippines and the US brings with it the strength of the Americans’ alliance with other nations that have upheld the free and open Indo-Pacific strategy as well as their support for the Arbitral Tribunal’s ruling favoring the sovereign rights of the Philippines in its Exclusive Economic Zone in the West Philippine Sea,” he said in another statement.

Biazon said the VFA would also mean that the anti-terrorism drive, especially in the Southern Philippines, will continue to be bolstered by the US through operational and technical assistance as well as intelligence sharing.

“The resumption of joint exercises will be a boost in the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ capability, readiness, and inter-operational efficiency in meeting the security challenges the country may face,” he said.

Malacañang said on Friday that Duterte decided to recall the termination of the Philippines’ VFA on the ground of the two nations’ respect for their partnership, being “sovereign equals”.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque issued the statement, the same day when Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced Duterte’s move to retract the abrogation of VFA.

“PRRD’s (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) decision to recall the abrogation of VFA is based on upholding PH strategic core interests, the clear definition of PH-US alliance as one between sovereign equals, and clarity of US position on its obligations and commitments under MDT (Mutual Defense Treaty),” Roque said in a statement.

The 1951 MDT aims to step up the defense and security cooperation between US and Philippine troops.

Since last year

Duterte ordered the VFA’s revocation in February 2020. It was supposed to be officially scrapped in August last year but the termination was suspended for three six-month periods.

The latest was in June this year when Duterte decided anew to extend the VFA’s validity for six more months.

Lorenzana said the Philippines would continue to hold negotiations with the US to revisit the VFA.

The VFA, a 1998 defense deal between Manila and Washington, allows American forces to enter the Philippines sans passport and visa to allow them to participate in joint military drills.