VFA termination long overdue, a step in the right direction —Palace

Malacañang on Wednesday defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to end the Philippines’ Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States after a Trump administration official called the termination a “move in the wrong direction.”

Duterte’s spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the termination, which will take effect 180 days from US’ receipt of the notice, was long overdue.

“From the Philippines' side, it is a move in the right direction that should have been done a long time ago,” Panelo said in a text message.

The Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, on Tuesday sent the notice of termination to the US government upon the order of the President.

In response, the US Embassy in Manila, which received the notice, said it viewed the termination as a “serious step with significant implications” while US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said it was “unfortunate” since it came at a time when some countries are telling China to abide by international law on the issue of the South China Sea.

“As we try and, you know, bolster our presence and compete with them in this era of great power competition, I think it's a move in the wrong direction for, again, for the longstanding relationship we've had with the Philippines for their strategic location, the ties between our peoples, our countries," Esper said in an interview on Tuesday.

The US Navy regularly conducts freedom of navigation patrols to ensure unfettered access to the South China Sea, a part of which Manila refers to as the West Philippine Sea.

“That is from the US point of view because the VFA favors it in terms of global strategic positioning,” Panelo said.

The Palace official added the Philippines must strengthen its defense capabilities.

“Ultimately, reliance on another country for our defenses against enemies of the state will weaken and stagnate our defense mechanism. We must stand on our own and put a stop to being a parasite to another country in protecting our independence and sovereignty,” he said.

Panelo earlier said Duterte would reject any attempt by the US government to prevent the termination of the VFA and an invitation to visit the US.

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.

The President also took exception to the US’ alleged interference in the country’s domestic affairs, including the drug war and the imprisonment of his staunch critic Senator Leila De Lima. —LDF, GMA News