Visa row puts US pact in danger
MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has once again threatened to end a military pact with the United States, this time over a cancelled American visa of a senator who used to lead his drug war.
Mr Duterte said he’s giving the US government a month to “correct” Senator Ronald dela Rosa’s visa status, or else he will terminate the two-decade-old Visiting Forces Agreement, which sets the terms of American soldiers’ entry to the Philippines for military exercises.
“They have to start talking to us because they have to go. They’re rude,” Mr Duterte said, according to an emailed transcript of his speech delivered on Thursday night.
Mr dela Rosa was quoted by local media on Wednesday as saying that his US visa has been voided, and said this might be linked to his role in Mr Duterte’s drug war which has killed thousands.
Following Mr Duterte’s remarks, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin tweeted yesterday that his agency is corresponding with the Senate to start the process of terminating the military pact. Lawmakers including opposition Senator Franklin Drilon were quoted by media as saying the president could end the treaty unilaterally.
Since becoming president in 2016, Mr Duterte has repeatedly threatened to “break up” the Southeast Asian nation’s alliance with the US, while warming ties with China. Three years ago, he warned of cancelling the same pact due to deferred aid.