MANILA – A lawmaker at the House of Representatives on Friday urged the government to make a decision whether or not to extend the suspension of the Visiting Forces Agreement’s (VFA) termination, or even rescind the termination notice itself.
In a media forum, Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffy Biazon said the suspension of the VFA termination would expire this December and would be “extendible by the Philippines for another six months.”
“We have three choices. Our first choice is to withdraw the termination; the second choice is to extend the suspension of the termination, and the third choice is to pursue with the termination and end the VFA. Parating na tayo sa panahon na ‘yon (We are nearing that period),” Biazon said.
Biazon noted that the decision would have an impact on the Philippines’ foreign policy, as well as its policy on protecting the West Philippine Sea.
“Dahil kung tayo ay magte-terminate na talaga by December, magpu-pullout na ang whatever troops or forces stationed temporarily here in the Philippines (Because if we are really terminating [the agreement] by December, whatever troops or forces stationed temporarily here in the Philippines will be pulled out),” he said.
Biazon said the VFA termination could also affect the country’s anti-terrorism campaign.
“Remember, nagkaroon ulit ng bombing sa Jolo. Ibig sabihin, terrorists are still operating in the southern part of the Philippines at nandoon ngayon, doon nago-operate, ‘yong mga ibang tropa ng America, under the VFA (Remember, there was a bombing again in Jolo. That means, terrorists are still operating in the southern part of the Philippines, and that is where some American troops are operating under the VFA),” he said.
Asked whether the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) would be crippled should the VFA be terminated, Biazon said there were capabilities being supported by the United States, such as surveillance and training.
Aside from this, Biazon also noted that the VFA also provides humanitarian assistance and disaster response capabilities, considering that the country is prone to typhoons.
“Remember Haiyan (Yolanda), ‘yong mga nasira noon sa Leyte. We survived it at tinulungan din tayo ng US Armed Forces dahil sa response nila being in-country right away. These are things that should be considered diyan sa bagay na ‘yan (Remember [Typhoon] Haiyan (Yolanda), those that were destroyed in Leyte. We survived it and we were assisted by the US Armed Forces due to their response of being in-country right away),” he said.
Biazon said in order to wean from dependence on foreign military, resources should be poured into upgrading the AFP.
“Pero sa ngayon, kung ang problema really ay (But now, if the problem really is the availability of funds to develop the capability of the Armed Forces fully, we have to rely on allies. And ‘yung (the) reliance on allies, ‘yong (the) maintenance of alliances, ang tingin ko, long-term talaga ‘yan (in my view, is for the long-term),” he said.