No need for Duterte to consult Cabinet over VFA termination — Panelo

President Rodrigo Duterte did not have to consult his Cabinet before making foreign policy decisions, Malacañang said Monday.

Duterte’s spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the statement after Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. recently said he and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana were not consulted about the President’s decision to terminate the Philippines’ Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States.

Locsin, however, told a Senate inquiry on the VFA and other military agreements last Thursday that it was Duterte’s prerogative to end the defense accord.

“The President is the chief architect [of foreign policy]. Hindi [niya] kailangan mag-consult,” Panelo said at a news conference.

“Magaling na presidente, abogado pa. Kung meron siyang doubts on certain areas siguro that’s the time he consults.”

Panelo also denied that the termination of the VFA, which governs the conduct of visiting US personnel holding military exercises in the Philippines, would negatively affect Filipinos working in the US.

“Hindi naman. Ang overseas workers natin kaya nandoon dahil kailangan din nila ang ating mga kababayan,” he said.

Duterte had sought the termination of the VFA after the US canceled the visa of Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, his close ally, reportedly over the former national police chief’s involvement in the deadly war on drugs.

Panelo earlier announced Duterte had ordered Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to tell Locsin to send the Philippines’ notice of termination to the US government.

The VFA would be deemed terminated upon a party's written notice of its intention to end the agreement, which becomes effective after 180 days from such notification. — RSJ, GMA News