PH, US in talks for possible new defense deal : Romualdez

February 28, 2020

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez on Friday said talks are ongoing between him and US Ambassador Sung Kim for a possible new deal to replace the Visiting Forces Agreement.


“We are now in the process of trying to find ways and means to be able to see how we can either come out with something similar perhaps again… still following the President’s thinking about the sovereignty issue,” Romualdez said in a forum Friday.


“The Japan SOFA (status of forces agreement) is one of those recommended for study and also I think we have SOVFA (status of visiting forces agreement) with Australia. These are the two existing agreements with other countries,” he said.


“At the moment, I’m not at liberty to say what or where we are. But this is still being studied and recommendation will be made to the President (Rodrigo Duterte),” Romualdez added.


Romualdez said the termination of the VFA would not mean the end of the relationship between the Philippines and US.


“My responsibility is to continue to assure our friends in Washington DC that this is something that we have to face, the decision of the President. So we have to start moving forward and continue our relationship. It is not an end all and be all,” Romualdez said.


In late January. Duterte warned he will end the two-decade old VFA following the cancellation of the visa of his ally, Senator Ronald dela Rosa over his alleged involvement in reported extrajudicial killings when he was Philippine National Police chief.


The notice of termination was sent by the Philippines to the US on February 11.  DMS