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Austin is first Biden cabinet member to meet with Pres. Duterte (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte decided to continue the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States government, recalling his earlier decision to terminate or abrogate the VFA. Delfin Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced that President Duterte decided to continue the VFA after his meeting on Thursday, July 29, with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Because of this, he said that the “VFA […]
Ongoing Balikatan exercises strengthening US-PH relations, says PHL Ambassador to US (Eagle News) – The Philippines and the United States have further strengthened its defense relations with the Balikatan exercises amid the country’s problem with China’s continued incursions in the West Philippine Sea. In fact, the United States had recently sent one of its aircraft carriers, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, to accompany the Philippine Navy ships in patrolling the country’s waters as part of […]
Trump’s Nat’l Security Advisor says US welcomes Duterte’s extension of VFA (Eagle News) — US President Donald Trump’s national security advisor Robert O’Brien visited the country Monday, Nov. 23, to assure the continuing commitment of the United States to its alliance with the Philippines as he turned over some $18 million worth of precision guided munitions (PGMs) and other defense articles as a symbol of that commitment. The PGMs, also known as smart bombs, […]
(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte may suspend the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement for another six months. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the comment in a television interview aired on Wednesday, Nov. 4. “But anyway, what I am saying is, there is no immediate rush for the President to decide because the notification we sent to the Americans gives them at least one year leeway before it’s abrogated,” Roque said. The President ordered the suspension […]
(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte’s position on the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement remains unchanged. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the clarification on Thursday, June 4, adding the President only suspended the abrogation of the VFA, which governs the conduct of American soldiers taking part in military exercises in the Philippines. A diplomatic note sent by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. to Washington said the suspension of the termination for at least […]
(Eagle News)–Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Wednesday, June 3, said the country looks forward to “continuing our strong military partnership with the United States even as we continue to reach out to our regional allies in building a common defense towards enduring stability and peace and continuing economic progress and prosperity in our part in the world.” The Foreign Affairs chief made the statement following the suspension of the agreement that governs the […]
(Eagle News)–The Philippines has suspended the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said. According to a diplomatic note issued to US Ambassador Sung Kim and posted on the Foreign Affairs Secretary’s Twitter account, the suspension of the termination of the agreement, which governs the conduct of US forces who take part in military exercises in the Philippines, was “in light of the political and other developments in the region.” […]
US Embassy “questioned AFP’s capacity to conduct sustained counterterrorism operations” amid pandemic, says Pentagon report (Eagle News) — The United States’ Department of Defense said that the Philippine government’s decision to end the Visiting Forces Agreement will “likely present new challenges for US counterterrorism operations.” In the latest report by the US “Lead Inspector General (Lead IG)” to the US Congress, it said that the end of the VFA could complicate US operations in […]
(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, March 9, stood firm on his decision to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement. They cannot compel me. I refuse to be compelled. I have terminated it, tapos ang problema ko,” he said. The President issued the statement after several senators went to the Supreme Court to ask it to declare any abrogation of a treaty or an agreement requires the approval of at least 2/3 of the Senate. The […]
(Eagle News) — Several senators on Monday, March 9, asked the Supreme Court to declare that the withdrawal from a treaty or an international agreement requires the concurrence of 2/3 of all members of the upper chamber for it to be valid. In the petition for declaratory relief and mandamus personally filed by Senate President Tito Sotto, Senator Richard Gordon, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senator Panfilo Lacson before the Supreme Court, the senators […]
(Eagle News)–All Cabinet members support President Rodrigo Duterte’s foreign policy decisions, including the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement. This was the response of Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo to Senator Panfilo Lacson’s allegations some Cabinet members expressed apprehensions over the revocation of the agreement that governs the conduct of American soldiers in the country as they conduct military exercises with their Philippine counterparts. “Yung mga nakausap namin, more or less, halos unanimous naman sila na […]
(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte is not interested in forging military pacts with other countries. This is according to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, who was interviewed on ANC on Friday, Feb. 21. “Tinanong ko siya, ‘Are you open to military forces agreement with other countries? No. For as long as I am President, no,” Panelo quoted the President as saying. Panelo made the remark after the Philippines terminated the Visiting Forces Agreement with the […]
