What House solons say on retraction of VFA termination

Lawmakers from the House of Representatives have varying opinions on the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to retract the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States.

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate on Friday said Duterte's move was no longer a surprise, noting that the President was not really bent on abrogating the deal with the US.

In a statement, Zarate claimed that it was obviously a part of the Duterte administration's "Janus-faced foreign policy."

Zarate said the supposed VFA termination was another "jetskied" Duterte braggadocio and "our foreign policy is further from being independent when his term started."

"We have said it before that he is not really bent on abrogating the VFA. If at all, the prior threat to abrogate is even one way also for Pres. Duterte to appease the United States government and court its favor behind his political plans and for his  selected successor in the 2022 elections," Zarate said.

"Pres. Duterte is appeasing the US, haggle for more war materiel in support of its US-dictated counter-insurgency campaign. At the same time, he continues to pursue a vassal-like relations with China," he added.

Gabriela party-list lawmaker Arlene Brosas shared the same sentiment of Zarate, saying this was just Duterte's way to get the US' support for the coming elections.

Brosas also believed the VFA would make "matters even worse for women as several cases of violence against women and members of the LGBTQ+ perpetrated by American soldiers were reported since it was implemented."

"We will never forget Jennifer Laude and others who were brutally murdered and violated by American soldiers," she said.

On the other hand, House Minority Leader Joseph Paduano said Duterte's decision was a "balancing act" pursuant to the administration's so-called independent policy.

Paduano said the recall order appears to be consistent with Duterte's remark that the Philippines would remain neutral in its diplomatic ties with other nations.

"But there should be a full public disclosure on the matter. As of now, all we know is that the abrogation was recalled," Paduano said.

"The advantage we were expecting has not materialized yet and an improved VFA is nowhere to be seen," he added.

Strengthen bilateral cooperation

But Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said Duterte's decision would be the start of a closer and more cordial relationship between the two countries.

"Now more than ever, we need to maintain strong ties with the United States given the current uncertain and challenging international political environment that was further aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic," Velasco said.

Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez expressed support for the President's decision, saying this will definitely help strengthen bilateral cooperation between the Philippines and the US.

"We should welcome all efforts to shore up relations with other countries, especially with our allies, as only through global cooperation can we survive from this world-wide crisis," Romualdez said.

"More than ever, we need partnership and collaboration with our brother-nations so that we may be able to withstand all threats that our country face right now and in the future," he added.

For Muntinlupa Representative Ruffy Biazon, vice chairperson of the house committee on national defense, Duterte's decision is a welcome development, noting that the Philippine defense and security interests will surely benefit in the continuing cooperation with the US, our long-standing ally.

"This bilateral cooperation between the Philippines and the US brings with it the strength of the Americans’ alliance with other nations who have upheld the free and open Indo-Pacific strategy as well as their support for the Arbitral Tribunal’s ruling favoring the sovereign rights of the Philippines in its Exclusive Economic Zone in the West Philippine Sea," Biazon said in a separate statement.

"This will also mean that the country’s anti-terrorism drive especially in the Southern Philippines will continue to be bolstered by the US through operational and technical assistance as well as intelligence sharing," Biazon added.

Biazon said the resumption of joint exercises would be a boost in the Philippine military's capability, readiness, and inter-operational efficiency in addressing the country's security challenges.

Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez lauded the President's decision, saying it is good for the country.

"We have to strengthen our relations with the US in view of the incursions in the West Philippine Sea. We also need US assistance to fight terrorists," Rodriguez told reporters.

Earlier in the day, Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana announced the development after Duterte met with US Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III.

The two officials agreed that the ties between the Philippines and the US could be heightened through "enhanced communication and greater cooperation, particularly in areas of pandemic response, combating transnational crimes, including drug war, maritime domain awareness, rule of law and trade and investments."

In February 2020, Duterte ordered the abrogation of the VFA after the US, a long-time Philippine defense and treaty ally, revoked the visa of his close ally, Senator Ronald Dela Rosa.

The VFA took effect in 1999 after being ratified by the Philippine Senate. It is an implementation of the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty forged by the US and the Philippines as security partners after World War II. It is a framework agreement that covers the treatment and presence of American forces in the country with or without war games..

However, under the agreement, US forces are not allowed to take part in combat operations. — RSJ, GMA News