AFP, DOJ chiefs say Philippines ‘will live’ without VFA
Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. andJustice Secretary Menardo Guevarra “We survived the historic termination of the PH-US military bases agreement,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said, recalling the termination in 1991.
“There’s no reason why we shall not survive the termination of a mere visiting forces agreement,” he pointed out. Guevarra said the Philippines can also seek “similar VFAs with other countries to continue the training of our military personnel.” The Military Bases Agreement, signed in 1947, was terminated in December, 1991 after majority of the senators rejected the renewal of the Subic Naval Base despite opposition from then President Corazon Aquino. “We will support the President’s decision, his political decision. We will live without the VFA, we have lived before noong nawala ‘yung bases agreement . We have not received something, wala namang nangyari sa atin ,” said General Felimon Santos Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff. The void that the US military will leave shall be filled with the strengthened cooperation that will be made by the Philippine military to its other allied countries, including China where the country has an existing territorial maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea. Aside from China, Santos said they will also look to increase its engagements with Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and Australia which has also an existing visiting forces agreement with the Philippines.But US Defense Secretary Mark Esper described the VFA termination as a “move in the wrong direction”. “We have to digest it. We have to work through the policy angles, the military angles. I’m going to hear from my commanders. But you know, in my view, it’s unfortunate that they would make this move,” Esper, who was en route to Europe for a North Atlantic Treaty Organization meeting, told reporters. “I do think it would be a move in the wrong direction as – as we both bilaterally with the Philippines and collectively with a number of other partners and allies in the region are trying to say to the Chinese, ‘You must obey the international rules of order. You must obey, you know, abide by international norms’.” “[A]s we try and, you know, bolster our presence and compete with them in this era of great power competition, I think it’s a move in the wrong direction – for again, for the longstanding relationship we’ve had with the Philippines for their strategic location, the ties between our peoples, our countries,” Esper added as he confirmed receipt of the Notice of Termination. The full transcript of his remarks was posted on the official website of the US Department of Defense. The Pentagon Chief said the US government has yet to digest the notification, adding that there remains 180 working days before the agreement is officially terminated. As stated in the VFA, the termination of the accord will take effect in 180 days unless there is a “compromise” during the time. “We’ve got to work through it, and we’ll just take a deep breath and take it one day at a time,” Esper said. The US-Philippines VFA, signed in 1998 and ratified by the Senate the following year, allows joint military trainings and exercises between the two countries in the Philippine setting and governs for the conduct of the American troops while they are here. This year, the US military has about 300 engagements and exercises with the Philippine military, half of which may be affected when the VFA termination takes effect after six months or 180 days since the US receipt of the notice. Aside from this, among the benefits that the Philippines has been getting from the VFA include financial grants, and deterrence against possible attacks from other countries through shared intelligence information, among others. Guevarra said “the termination of the VFA will make the EDCA practically useless and the MDT a hollow agreement.” Before the termination notice was sent to the US, Malacañang had directed the DOJ to study the legal process in the termination as well as conduct an impact assessment on the termination of the agreement. During the study it conducted, Guevarra met with the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces . “The PCVF members had differing views but ended up leaving it to the President’s sound judgment,” recounted Guevarra.‘National tragedy’ Meanwhile, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario on Wednesday called on the Filipino people to take a stand against a “national tragedy” resulting in President Duterte’s order to abrogate the VFA. Del Rosario said the termination of the VFA is “harmful” to the country, as it will also put to an end two major defense pacts with the US – the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and the Mutual Defense Treaty . “This continuing shift in foreign policy casting aside a long time reliable ally in favor of an aggressive neighbor that has been blatantly demonstrating its lack of respect for international law is incomprehensible and harmful to our country and our people,” he said without naming names. “We must be with responsible nations with whom we share our core values of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law. To stand otherwise, is not what Filipinos are; it is not what we do; it is not what is right,” Del Rosario added.
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