Military deals with Japan, Australia stay – Palace
By Argyll Geducos
Malacañang said there was no reason for President Duterte to terminate the Philippines’ military agreements with Japan and Australia despite abrogating the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said despite the moves to craft a new agreement, Panelo said there was no changing President Duterte’s mind about scrapping the VFA.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo (OPS / MANILA BULLETIN)
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manual Romuladez had earlier said that he and US Ambassador to Manila Sung Kim are trying to find ways to craft another deal to replace the VFA.
Romualdez said they are looking at the Japan status of forces agreement (SOFA), and the status of visiting forces agreement (SOVFA) with Australia as reference for a new deal with the US.
“Yun ay puro rekomendasyon lang kay Presidente. Si Presidente, and posisyon remains unchanged (That is just a recommendation to the President but his position remains unchanged),” Panelo said Sunday.
“Gusto niya pa rin na matanggal ang VFA. Gusto niya talagang maging self-reliant tayo. Yun ang pinaka-punto niya (He still wants to terminate the VFA. He wants us to be self-reliant),” he added.
Despite the President’s desire for the Philippines to stand on its own, Panelo said Duterte has no reason to also scrap the military deals with Japan and Australia.
“Tuloy pa rin yun kasi (Those (deals) will push through because) there is no reason for the President to terminate them sa ngayon (for now),” he said.
Panelo said once the SOFA and SOVFA expire, the President may decide to either abrogate them or retain them.
“Yung mga ‘yun hindi gagalawin ni Presidente yun (The President will not touch those two deals) unless there is a compelling reason for him to do so,” Panelo said.
“Yung compelling reason will depend on the President. That’s his call. Palaging (His call is always) based on national interest and general welfare,” he added.
Panelo said one factor that may prompt Duterte to terminate the SOFA and SOVFA with Japan and Australia is that if either country would interfere with the Philippines’ sovereignty like what the US supposedly did.
“Kung yun ang basis niya for abrogating the VFA, yun din ang magiging basis niya sa lahat (If the country’ sovereignty was his basis for abrogating the VFA, then that would be his basis for everything), to be consistent. And he is a very consistent person.”
Malacañang has explained that the decision to scrap the VFA was the result of a series of “disrespectful acts” by some US senators, including the passage of controversial budget law which bans the entry of Filipino officials supposedly behind the arrest of Senator Leila de Lima.