MANILA, Feb 8 (PNA) – Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte, wants Foreign Secretary, Teodoro Locsin, to notify Washington, about the intention of Manila to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the United States and the Philippines, Presidential Spokesperson, Salvador Panelo, said, yesterday.
“President Duterte is instructing Executive Secretary (Salvador) Medialdea, to tell Foreign Affairs Secretary Locsin, to send the notice of termination to the U.S. government,” said Panelo in a text message to reporters.
Panelo said, Duterte is also scheduled to speak with U.S. President, Donald Trump, through a phone call “soon.” He did not elaborate when the telephone call will take place.
In a text message to local media, Defence Secretary, Delfin Lorenzana, also said, “The president said he is terminating the VFA. I asked for clarification and he said he is not changing his decision.”
Panelo’s announcement came, after Locsin told the Senate that Duterte ordered him to send the notice.
Under the two-decade military pact between the Philippines and the United States, the VFA can be terminated via a written notice from either of the countries. Expiration will come 180 days from the time either party notifies the other.
Duterte last week reiterated he wanted to scrap the agreement that allows U.S. forces to participate in large-scale military drills in the Philippines.– NNN-PNA
