(Eagle News) — Three senators have asked President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider his unilateral withdrawal from the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States.
In urging the President in Senate Resolution No. 312, Senate President Tito Sotto, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senator Panfilo Lacson acknowledged that while “by constitutional fiat and by the intrinsic nature of his office” the President, as head of state, is “the sole organ and authority in the external affairs of the country,” the Senate “should be given the opportunity to conduct a review and assessment of the impact of the withdrawal on the country’s security and economy..”
The three senators said this was “especially with regard to the intelligence information sharing, military aid and financing and technical assistance extended by the United States relative to the continuing threats posed by domestic and foreign terrorist groups, and ultimately, to the stability and security in the Asia Pacific region.”
“Whereas, as a policymaking body, the Senate should likewise give its view and opinion on the repercussions that said unilateral withdrawal will entail to the existing (Mutual Defense Treaty) and (Enhanced Development Cooperation Agreement) with the United States of America,” the senators said.
“Now therefore be it resolved as it is hereby expresses the sense of the Senate to earnestly request the President to reconsider his planned abrogation of the (VFA) in the meantime that the Senate is conducting a review and impact assessment with the end in view of ensuring the continued safety and security of the Philippines and the Asia Pacific and maintain the existing balance of power within the region,” they added.
President Duterte had threatened to scrap the VFA, which governs the conduct of American soldiers in the country, after the US cancelled Senator Ronald dela Rosa’s US visa.
Dela Rosa said he believes the cancellation was because of his role in the drug war, which the US has repeatedly criticized.
The Department of Justice has been asked to study how to withdraw from the agreement, and to determine the impact such a withdrawal.
