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.
“As a diplomatic courtesy, there will be no further factual announcements following this self-explanatory development,” the foreign affairs chief said.
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 thru Executive Secretary 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. @DFAPHL
— Dodo Dulay (@dododulay) February 11, 2020
“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.
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.
@DFAPHL The Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the United States has received the notice of termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement. As a diplomatic courtesy there will be no further factual announcements following this self-explanatory development. https://t.co/qQhywEpcea
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) February 11, 2020
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