Duterte terminated VFA for the wrong reasons – church group

A church group, while lauding the Duterte administration’s termination of the Philippines’ Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, took issue with the reason for the termination, Mav Gonzales reported Tuesday on Balitanghali.

The Promotion of Church People's Response (PCPR), which had gathered along España Boulevard in Manila on Tuesday to commemorate the 34th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, said in a statement that the VFA was rightfully terminated because the presence of foreign troops in the Philippines made the country more vulnerable to attacks from “imperialist” nations.

“President [Rodrigo] Duterte has made a correct move, but for a wrong reason. Saying that he is motivated to do so in the defense of his long-time henchman and friend Senator Bato de la Rosa,” the group said on Facebook.

Duterte sought the termination of the VFA after the US government revoked Dela Rosa’s visa, reportedly over the latter’s involvement in the war on drugs.

“Duterte’s strong-arm in attempting to defend his henchman and bloody ‘War on Drugs’ is out of place. There are strong and principled reasons to terminate the VFA with the USA,” the PCPR said.

Last February 11, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. confirmed that he had sent the VFA termination notice to the US government. 

The termination would take effect 180 days after the notice was sent. — Julia Mari Ornedo/DVM, GMA News