Palace not budging despite Congress resolution on VFA abrogation

By: Kristine Angeli Sabillo - 10 years ago

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Tuesday insisted that the Executive is against the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement despite the alleged murder of a Filipino transgender by a US Marine and the filing of a joint resolution in Congress.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said President Benigno Aquino III has already expressed his opinion that the country needs the Mutual Defense Treaty, which was the basis of the VFA.

Aquino said the treaty allows the country to address “political tensions, potential military conflicts, issues about territories but also even in terms of humanitarian assistance and the ability to be able to respond to changes being brought about by global climate change” with the help of the United States.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

He said this could be taken into account by the majority coalition in Congress.

The joint resolution was filed by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago and Akbayan Representative Walden Bello.

The two lawmakers said that the VFA should be terminated because it allows the US to get away with violating Philippine laws.

Nevertheless, Coloma said: “While the government stands for the continuation of the VFA, the President has said that there is also a constant review of the agreement.”

Although Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that the review looks into the implementing guidelines of the agreement and its interpretations, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario admitted that the review is only “procedural” and will not actually lead to the amendment of the VFA.

The VFA had again become a subject of debates after critics questioned its custody provision, which allowed Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton to remain under US custody.

Pemberton is the suspect in the killing of a transgender woman Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude in Olongapo. The US Marine was in the country for the joint military exercises.

Pemberton is currently detained at Camp Aguinaldo, the headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, but is being guarded by US soldiers. The US said Pemberton remains in their custody.