Duterte to consider US request on VFA

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte was studying the request of the United States for a longer extension of the suspension of the termination of the Visiting Forces of the Agreement (VFA), his spokesman said.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. made the statement after National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien pushed for a suspension of the VFA termination that would last for a year or longer to allow further negotiations for a more acceptable security arrangement.

Roque said Duterte would decide on the US request.

"Let’s just say that the President has taken note of the request of the US authorities and he will decide as chief architect of foreign policy," he added.

O’Brien earlier said the US government welcomed the Philippines' suspension of the VFA termination for the second time.

The US official, who visited Manila this week, said it would be better if the suspension would last for a year or longer to address concerns related to the military deal.

In February, the President ordered Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. to serve a notice of termination to the US Embassy in Manila, in response to the cancellation of the US visa of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, a staunch ally of the Chief Executive.

The termination of the VFA would have been effective 180 days from receipt of the notice.

In June, however, the Philippines suspended the termination of the VFA for six months “in light of political and other developments” in the region. The first suspension of the VFA termination would have ended in December.

On November 11, Locsin announced that the government had extended the suspension of the VFA abrogation for another six months.

Locsin said this would allow the Philippines and the US "to find a more enhanced, mutually beneficial, mutually agreeable, and more effective and lasting arrangement on how to move forward in our mutual defense."

The VFA, a military pact signed between the Philippines and the US in 1998, allows American troops who are participating in joint military exercises to visit Manila without a passport and visa.

Meanwhile, Roque refused to comment on the accusation made by the Chinese government that O’Brien was allegedly attempting to sow discord between China and the Philippines.

The US official slammed Beijing’s encroachment of territories in the South China Sea that are under Manila’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

"I cannot speak either for the National Security Adviser of the US or the Spokesperson of China. I can only speak for the President. And the President has said that there will be increased tensions among superpowers in the region. We do not want to take part in that drive for hegemony," he said.

Roque also maintained that the Philippines would pursue a "peaceful and diplomatic" approach to resolve its long-standing sea row with China.