Senate President Vicente Sotto III. (PRIB Photo)
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Saturday insisted the review of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and reconsider President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to terminate this agreement between the United States and the Philippines.
“Magiging mensahe ko baka maaaring ireview muna natin [For me, I think we should review the VFA]. Mag-usap uli kami pagkatapos na ireconsider muna yung pag-terminate pero kung ako tatanungin. [We will still talk about it then we should reconsider the termination if you ask me.],” Sotto said over radio station DWIZ.
This was after presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo disclosed that Duterte will direct his Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. to inform the US that the Philippines will discontinue the VFA, which allows US military presence in the Philippines.
Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, chair of Senate committee on foreign relations, said the review of the VFA may still push through as a resolution under his committee is still pending.
“Review can continue coz one reso pending before my Committee wants the study of the VFA termination’s ‘implications.’ The effectivity of the termination is 180 days from our notice to the US,” Pimentel said in a text message to reporters.