Senators welcomed President Duterte’s decision to retract VFA termination.
On Friday, some senators welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to retract the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States.
In a text message to reporters, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said that the President’s decision to retract the termination of the VFA was a “good move”.
Senate national defense committee chairman Panfilo Lacson also supported the President’s decision, saying that the termination of the VFA will put the country at the disadvantage considering China’s incursion in the West Philippine Sea.
“That’s the way to do it. It goes without saying, I fully support the President’s decision in this regard. Termination of the VFA will do our country’s security situation more harm than good, especially at this time when incursions into our territories in the WPS have become more aggressive and unabated. This is not to mention the continuing threats of terrorism in our country. We have to accept the reality that we cannot do it alone and our bilateral agreements with more militarily capable countries like the United States and even Australia should be put into good use,” Lacson said.
READ ALSO: President Duterte Orders Retraction Of VFA Termination — Lorenzana
Meanwhile, Senator Francis Tolentino said that the retraction of the termination of the VFA “coupled” with the strengthening of the treaty was the “correct move” in light of the current geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region and as part of the celebration of the country’s 75th year of diplomatic relations with the United States.
Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, explained that the Senate must concur a new treaty if new terms were introduced in the Visiting Forces Agreement.
“Since there is no announcement that there is a new VFA treaty then we assume that what has been continued is the existing VFA. Hence, it is as if everything [regarding] the VFA is as it used to be,” Pimentel said.
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