Gordon: Duterte’s ‘no vaccine, no VFA’ threat vs. US totally inappropriate

President Rodrigo Duterte's threat to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement of the country with the United States should the latter fail to provide at least 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines is totally inappropriate, Senator Richard Gordon said Monday.

"National interest must be the only consideration for a VFA," Gordon said on Twitter.

"[The] 'No vaccine, No VFA threat' upon the US is totally inappropriate, mercenary and lessens the dignity of the Philippines," he added.

Last weekend, Duterte said the US should “stop talking” and deliver the vaccines to the Philippines.

"Kung hindi sila maka-deliver ng maski na lang a minimum of mga 20 million vaccines, they better get out,” Duterte said. “No vaccine, no stay here."

The VFA, which governs the conduct of visiting US personnel holding military exercises in the country, was abrogated by Duterte in February after the US revoked the visa of his ally Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa.

The termination process, however, has already been suspended twice this year.

Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier said there could be a more diplomatic or a better way of asking the US about the vaccines “without sounding like we are blackmailing our way into it.”

Malacañang defended Duterte's remark, saying it was not a blackmail but a manifestation of his independent foreign policy. — BM, GMA News