Philippines notifies US to end Visiting Forces Agreement
The Philippines has officially notified the US about the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the two countries, according to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo: Internet)
Hanoi (VNA) - The Philippines has officially notified the US about the termination ofthe Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the two countries, according to PresidentialSpokesperson Salvador Panelo.
Philippine PresidentRodrigo Duterte asked Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin to send anotice of termination to the US Government on February 10, Panelo said.
Speaking at a press conference on February 11, Panelo quoted Duterte as sayingthat the Philippines needs to strengthen its own capability as a countryrelative to the defence of its land.
Duterte decided to scrap the VFA after the US cancelled the US visa of SenatorRonald Dela Rosa, Duterte's longtime aide, over Dela Rosa's role in the war ondrugs when he was Philippine National Police chief.
The Philippines and the US signed the VFA in 1998, allowing joint Philippine-USmilitary operations. The Philippine Senate ratified the agreement in 1999, sevenyears after the closure of the last US base on Philippine territory.
According to theagreement, the termination will officially take effect after 180 days – the timefor relevant negotiations of the two sides./.
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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo: Internet) 
