DFA chief signs notice to scrap VFA | Global News

DFA chief signs notice to scrap VFA

/ 12:29 PM February 11, 2020

DFA

Department of Foreign Affairs. (Photo from the DFA Facebook account)

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has signed the termination notice for the country’s Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States.

Locsin said the embassy’s deputy chief of mission already received the notice of termination, which will take effect after 180 days.

Article continues after this advertisement

“As a diplomatic courtesy, there will be no further factual announcements following this self-explanatory development,” the foreign affairs chief said.

FEATURED STORIES

It was Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Brigido Dulay who initially confirmed that Locsin has signed the termination notice upon the order of the chief executive.

“On the order of the President [Rodrigo Duterte] thru Executive Secretary [Salvador] Medialdea, Foreign Affairs Secretary Locsin signed today the notice of termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement, which will delivered to the US Embassy in Manila forthwith” Dulay said.

Article continues after this advertisement

This comes less than a week after Locsin told a Senate hearing that abrogating the said military accord would “negatively impact” the overall relations of the Philippines and the US.

Article continues after this advertisement

Last January 23, the President gave the US government 30 days to rectify the visa cancellation of his political ally Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa or he would abrogate the two-decade-old military accord.

The VFA, which was ratified by the Senate in 1999, governs the conduct of US troops who take part in military exercises in the Philippines.

Edited by JPV

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: break, breaking, DFA, Features, Global Nation, Locsin, US, VFA

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.