Sara Duterte in US for leadership training initiated by State Department

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte is in the United States to participate in a leadership program initiated by the US State Department.

Mayor Duterte confirmed this to GMA News Online a day after her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, threatened to junk the Visiting Forces Agreement between the US and the Philippines in reaction to the US government's cancellation of the US visa of Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, one of the President's trusted allies.

The younger Duterte is joined by Mayor Beng Climaco of Zamboanga City as participants of the International Visitor Leadership Program scheduled from January 21 to 28.

"Yes, [I am here]. The theme is preventing terrorism in Southeast Asia," Mayor Duterte said.

"The areas [where the leadership program is being held] are Washington DC and Los Angeles," she added.

The cancellation of Dela Rosa's US visa came after the US government passed a federal budget banning US entry of those involved in the prosecution of Senator Leila de Lima on drug-related charges, which the US government described as unjust prosecution.

The VFA, on the other hand, is a pact inked between Manila and Washington in 1999 which allows US troops to train and advise the Philippine military in its fight against terrorists but bans US forces in combat operations.

Under the VFA, the pact will remain in force until the expiration of 180 days from the date on which either party gives the other party notice in writing that it desires to terminate the agreement.

This is not the first time the President threatened to terminate the VFA. He made the same threat in December 2016, when the US government's Millennium Challenge Corporation deferred a vote on continuing aid to the Philippines amid concerns of unabated human rights violations. —KBK, GMA News