Philippine envoy confident VFA is here to stay

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez expressed confidence Friday that the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between Manila and Washington will remain with the latter committing to aid the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization program.

Romualdez made the response when asked about the VFA’s future given that President Rodrigo Duterte has asked the US to pay the Philippines if they want the agreement to continue.

“Every year, pinag-uusapan ang VFA, iyong Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT). Ang interpretation namin sa sinabi ni Presidente ay dahil imo-modernize ang ating Armed Forces,” Romualdez said during the Laging Handa briefing.

“Iyong listahan ng Pentagon [ng kailangan natin], pinadala na kay [Defense] Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. Iyong mga hiningi natin, mukhang kumpleto naman na…iyong kailangan natin na hardware, whatever we need from the US. Kapag nakita na iyon ng Presidente iyong listahan, it will probably satisfy the President’s concern in modernizing of our Armed Forces,” he added.

The VFA allows American forces to hold joint military exercises, counter intelligence training, and engage in humanitarian aid missions with their Filipino counterparts but prohibits US troops from engaging in combat operations.

The VFA is under the ambit of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) which has bound Manila and Washington since 1952.

The MDT provides that an armed attack in the Pacific Area on either the Philippines and the US would be dangerous and that they would act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its constitutional processes.

Romualdez then said that the Philippines is expected to receive 10 helicopters from the US within the year.

“Mahaba iyong listahan na binigay kay Secretary Lorenzana on our modernation program. Lahat ng gusto natin, mga kailangan, medyo natupad na,” Romualdez added.

The Philippines and the United States will be marking the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries this year and the 60th anniversary of the MDT.

“Matagal na itong relasyon natin sa Amerika, and I am confident na maski anong mangyari, we have an important relationship with America and we will continue to have good relations that is mutually beneficial,” Romualdez said.—AOL, GMA News