MANILA, Philippines — The country’s agreements and alliance with the United States will remain amid the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), Malacañang said Sunday.
“Wala, e hindi naman meteterminate ‘yung ibang mga agreement. Ganun pa din. Meron pa tayong mga ibang agreement ‘di ba?” Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer.
(Other agreements will not be terminated. It will remain. We have other agreements with the U.S. right?)
“Hindi naman mababago ‘yan (That will not change),” he added, when asked what would happen to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) following the start of VFA’s termination process.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier threatened to terminate the said accord with the U.S. if it fails to rectify the cancellation of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s visa.
“Yung VFA refers more to the privileges granted to the American. It does not include all other treaties which are relative to the security of the Philippines, the alliance with United States,” Panelo said.
“Ganun pa din ung alliance, hindi naman nagbabago. Ganun pa din, wala namang pagbabago,” he continued.
(The alliance will remain the same. No changes will be made.)
The Justice department earlier said it is prepared to help should there be a need for the government to study the effects of VFA termination on the EDCA and MDT. Its study on the process of terminating the VFA was reported to be submitted to the President on Monday.