Philippines to continue 'strong military partnership' with US –Locsin

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Wednesday said the Philippines will continue its “strong military partnership” with the United States after President Rodrigo Duterte decided to suspend the termination of a defense agreement that allows American troops to conduct joint training with their Filipino counterparts.

Duterte, who was keen on abrogating the Visiting Forces Agreement, reversed his decision and ordered the suspension of the agreement on June 1, citing “political and other developments in the region.”

“We look forward to continuing our strong military partnership with the US even as we continue to reach out to our regional allies in building a common defense towards enduring stability and peace continuing economic progress and prosperity in our part of the world,” Locsin said at a hastily called press conference at the Department of Foreign Affairs office.

Duterte ordered the abrogation of the VFA after the US, a long-time Philippine defense and treaty ally, revoked the visa of former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now senator, Ronald Dela Rosa, his close ally.

US officials did not cite a specific reason why Dela Rosa's visa was cancelled, but many speculated it was due to his involvement in Duterte's violent war on drugs.

Manila sent an official letter of termination of the VFA to the US on Feb. 11, 2020. Nearly three months later, Locsin on June 1 sent a diplomatic note to the US Embassy in Manila to notify them of Duterte’s decision to put the termination on hold – a move welcomed by Washington.

Manila’s Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez, meanwhile, said the country's decision to temporarily suspend the termination of VFA with the US had been influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic and developments in the disputed South China Sea.

Romualdez said the possibility of a suspension cropped up during his discussions with his US counterpart Sung Kim about US assistance to the Philippines’ COVID-19 response.

“Obviously, the situation as far as the pandemic is concerned is a major concern as far as the Visiting Forces Agreement. As a matter of fact, many of the Balikatan exercises had to be moved or cannot obviously be implemented because of the pandemic,” he told ANC.

More US aid seen

Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana welcomed the development, saying this could mean more US assistance at the time the country is facing the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In the next six months -- this is only my guess -- the assistance of the US will increase to fight the pandemic. They already give us some help or assistance recently, especially in providing equipment in our quarantine facilities," Lorenzana told CNN.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon likewise lauded the suspension of the abrogation.

"The unhampered implementation of the VFA will serve the interest of our country, particularly with regard to the preservation of our rights over parts of the West Philippine Sea," Drilon said in a statement.

VFA

The VFA governs the treatment of US servicemen in military units and defense personnel who are in the Philippine territory for short periods for joint military exercises approved by both the Philippine and US governments.

It entered into force on May 27, 1999 , eight years after the closure of US military bases in the Philippines in 1991. It was negotiated and signed during the time of President Fidel V. Ramos and ratified during President Joseph Estrada’s time.

Manila's move to abrogate the accord raises questions about the trajectory of the 69-year treaty alliance of the Philippines and the US at a time when the country is grappling with the territorial conflict with China in the South China Sea, where the US Navy regularly conducts freedom of navigation patrols to ensure unfettered access to the resource-rich waters.

Over the years, the US military also assisted the Armed Forces of the Philippines in combating extremist groups by providing technical assistance and enemy surveillance to Filipino troops battling the militants.

Why Duterte changed his mind?

“I will answer only one question which I will ask myself: Why did he change his mind? A man who does not change his mind cannot change anything. He ran on the slogan ‘change is coming.’ But in the vast and swiftly changing circumstances of the world, the time of pandemic and heightened super power tensions, a world leader must be quick in mind and fast on his feet for the safety of our nation and the peace of the world,” Locsin said.

Locsin said many countries in the region and the world find the Philippine government’s decision reassuring.

“Let me assure you that this action alarms no countries in Asia and the rest of the world. On the contrary it greatly reassures everyone,” he said.

“Everyone now is free to speculate about what is clear and true on its face. But the reckless and bad intention may undo, though I doubt they have the credibility the good that we all, women and men of peace and goodwill, seek.” --KBK, GMA News