Villanueva: Japan-PH RAA to go through ratification process

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between Japan and the Philippines will be treated as a treaty needing the Senate’s ratification.

Speaking at a Kapihan sa Senado, Villanueva said he received the information from the Executive branch.

“It will become a treaty and has to go through the Senate and should be ratified for it to take effect. Again, naalala ko lang kasi ‘yung gentleman’s agreement, if you are on the other side of the fence — will you actually agree with it nang walang kahit ano? Hindi binding — wala kang pinang hahawakan na kahit ano. And yet sasabihin mo na dapat i-implement and ire-require mo ang ating bansa,” said Villanueva.

(Again, I’m remembering the gentleman’s agreement, if you are on the other side of the fence — will you actually agree with it just like that? It’s not binding, you’re not holding on to something. And yet they say that we need to implement it and it will be required in our country?)

The Philippines and Japan’s RAA enables a mechanism for shared military training and operations and larger joint exercises between the two countries.

READ: Philippines invites Japan to completely join in Balikatan war games – AFP 

Asked when the RAA will be ratified, Villanueva said within the year.

“Within the year, definitely. Hopefully, before we take another break before Sona. Again, the ball is not in our hands — nasa Executive,” he added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier told reporters that negotiations are still ongoing for the RAA. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., on the other hand, said the deal is now nearing completion.

“I think we’re very close to completion on that,” Marcos said of the RAA during the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines forum held in Manila Hotel on Monday.