PH, New Zealand ink SOVFA

The Philippines and New Zealand have signed the Status of Forces Agreement or SOVFA, a key defense pact that will allow the latter's forces to hold joint military drills and bolster defense engagements with Manila.

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. witnessed the signing of the deal on Wednesday.

It was signed by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and New Zealand's Defense Minister Judith Collins.

The signing came as Collins paid a courtesy call on Marcos in Malacañang.

The Philippine president acknowledged the importance of the country's partnership with New Zealand.

''I thank you for all the progress as well what we have been doing in terms of the partnership between the New Zealand and the Philippines. I think it is well recognized that this partnerships have become very important in the face of all that is happening, not only in the region, just our region but yeah but it's now unfortunately set for the rest of the world,'' he said.

Collins, for her part, thanked Marcos for meeting her and the entire delegation.

They also briefly discussed the Vancouver attack that claimed the lives of at least 11 individuals.

''I could not quite believe what happened. It's totally unexplainable. It could not even be categorized as a terrorist concern. Apparently the perpetrator was just mentally disturbed. It wasn't particularly against Filipinos. I don't know well... There's no way to explain it in any kind of logical ways,'' Marcos said.

''So thank you for your thoughts and prayers for our casualties,'' he added.

In an earlier statement, Collins said this deal ''sets the legal framework for engagement between our respective militaries, better facilitating ongoing cooperation, activities and exercises in each of our territories.''

Manila's SOVFA with New Zealand, similar to a Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and its treaty ally, the United States, will provide the legal framework for temporary visits by New Zealand troops for joint training and exercises. It has a similar agreement with Australia.

Manila signed the same pact with Japan in 2024 that's awaiting ratification this year by Japan's parliament, and has recently concluded negotiations with Canada.

In a press conference, Collins said that New Zealand will continue to uphold the laws of the sea.

“In terms of deployment, we're not anticipating needing to do any such thing,” Collins said.

“But we are obviously still maintaining our sanctions work for North Korea and its activities. We will continue our P-8A Poseidon work. We will continue our transits. We will continue to uphold the law of the sea but we are not anticipating having to deploy anybody anywhere soon at all,” she added. —RSJ/NB, GMA Integrated News