Philippines suspends termination of VFA with US

June 3, 2020

The Philippines has suspended the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr said Tuesday.

''The abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement has been suspended upon the President's instruction,'' Locsin said in his Twitter account.

"In light of political and other developments in the region, the termination of the (Visiting Forces) Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the United States of America Regarding the Treatment of United States Forces visiting the Philippines contained in Note No. 20-0463 dated on 11 February 2020 is hereby suspended,'' the note verbale posted by Locsin on Twitter said.

''The suspension shall start on even date and shall continue for six months, which period is extendible by the Philippines for another six months, after which the tolling of the initial period in Note Verbale No. 20-0463 dated 11 February 2020 shall resume," it added.

Duterte ordered the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement on Feb 11, 2020 after the US revoked the visa of Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, the former chief of the Philippine National Police.

Locsin said he ''issued this diplomatic note to the US Ambassador. It has been received by Washington and well at that."

The US welcomed the Philippine government’s decision.

"Our long-standing alliance has benefited both countries, and we look forward to continued close security and defense cooperation with the Philippines," a US Embassy statement said.

The VFA, which was approved 20 years ago, allows American soldiers to regularly train with their Filipino counterparts in the country.  DMS