Military will ”survive” if US forces pullout after VFA ends

February 18, 2020

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will ''survive'' despite the possible pullout of United States forces in the country after the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

"I am just saying that their (US) contribution, if it is removed from us, will result to a reduction but it does not mean that we cannot survive," a senior military official who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

"It does not mean we cannot survive with their pullout. we can continue to survive. there is only a reduction, I can say reduction on our technical capability and other support system like medical and civil military operations or operations other than war," the source added.

The source explained that American forces need to leave once the VFA ends.

"That's automatic. Of course their presence here will cease because the VFA justifies their presence here in the Philippines not only in Mindanao," the source said.

The source said there were around 250 American troops based in southern Philippines.

"More or less 250, but there are US forces in other parts of the country but in Mindanao particular they are more or less 250," he said.

Another military source also emphasized the significant contribution of US forces to AFP.

"Well we could not deny that they helped us in our various security efforts particularly in our campaign against the local terrorist group, the Abu Sayyaf and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. They complement our Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability or technical capability," he said.

"We have our own capability. With their complementary or with their support, of course the coverage become more wider,.. but it's not a big loss because as what I've said we already have organic capability, meaning our Armed Forces is already capable," the source added.

The source stressed the need for lawmakers to speed up the modernization program of the AFP.

"With their pullout. we should be able to accellerate our modenization program so that in no time, we can fill in. We can immediately fill in the (gaps after) reduction (of US forces)," he said. Robina Asido/DMS