Sotto says suspending VFA abrogation a ‘good move’ for PH

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto said Thursday that holding off the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States for another six months is a “good move” for the Philippines.

Sotto made this remark after presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Wednesday that President Rodrigo Duterte may again hold off the abrogation of the VFA with the US.

“It’s a good move while the executive department is reviewing the pros and cons of the agreement, especially regarding our Defense relationship,” Sotto said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

The Philippine government sent in February a notice to the US embassy to terminate the VFA upon the order of Duterte. The termination was supposed to take effect in August.

Duterte had ordered the scrapping of the VFA after the US cancelled the visa of Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, one of his most trusted allies in the Senate and his first police chief.

However, the VFA termination was suspended for six months in June. The period of suspension ends this December.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said in the diplomatic note sent to the U.S. that the suspension of the pact is “extendible by the Philippines for another six months.”

JE