DOJ finishes study on ending VFA, presents it to Duterte Monday

January 25, 2020

The Department of Justice ( DOJ) has completed its study on the procedure for ending the 21-year-0ld Visiting Forces Agreement between the United States and the Philippines.

"I'm done with the study on the procedure for terminating the VFA, but I have to submit first my memo to PRRD [President Rodrigo Roa Duterte] on Monday," Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a text message Saturday.

Malacanang directed the DOJ to conduct the study after President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to cancel the VFA if the US does not restore the visa of his long-time ally Senator Ronald dela Rosa.

Guevarra did not give details.

Guevarra said the DOJ dealt with procedure on termination of the 1999 visiting forces agreement, which covers the conduct of American military activities in the Philippines.

"We shall answer such questions as: is the VFA a treaty or an executive agreement? If it’s a treaty, is Senate concurrence required for termination? Who will give the notice of termination? Is it necessary to state any ground for termination?" he said.

When asked if the termination would have an impact on other military agreements with the US, such as the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), Guevarra said this will be a separate study. DMS