Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon (File photo)
MANILA – A lawmaker at the House of Representatives on Tuesday said suspending the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) for six more months for the purposes of evaluating the deal was a “prudent decision” on the part of President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a statement, Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon said the recent move will give a chance for the security partnership between the Philippines and United States (US) to continue and “hopefully” improve.
Biazon noted that this development is also significant in light of the issues involving territorial disputes over the West Philippine Sea.
“The US is expected to actively move in the region due to their Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy in the years to come, so our engagement with them has strategic importance,” Biazon said.
Breathing space
Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero said the extension of the VFA is a way to create the space and conditions for bilateral talks on possibly a better arrangement and terms agreeable to both the Philippines and the US.
“Bilateral talks take time and effort. This is good for agreements that are well thought out. The breathing space the extension creates could allow, for example, the initial framework or guiding parameters for the better arrangement. That could then be followed by the final better agreement or terms,” Romero said.
He said the extension can also lead to other opportunities for security arrangements and mechanisms to ensure freedom of navigation, free flow of global commerce and travel, and enforce international law in this part of the world.
Romero said it might also be timely to study the feasibility of establishing a peacekeeping treaty alliance of countries in the Western Pacific for the long term.
WestPac Alliance
He said his proposed Western Pacific Peacekeeping (WestPac Alliance) would be a multinational organization against marine life poachers, pirates, hijackers, and illegal fishing.
The suggested international alliance, he said, would also have a special mission in international waters and international airspace to protect marine habitats, the unimpeded migration of marine and bird life, and deep-sea exploration expeditions, as well as the conduct of mishap investigations and rescue operations at sea and in the air.
“There are no maritime and environment law enforcement mechanisms and measures in international waters and international airspace in our part of the world. The WestPac Alliance could address the huge gap beyond the territorial waters and (EEZ),” Romero said.
The VFA lays out the terms and conditions on the entry and visit of US military troops for military exercises and other approved activities to the Philippines.
In February 2020, Duterte notified Washington that Manila is formally terminating the pact.
This is the third time that Duterte extended the suspension, the first of which was in June last year and the second in November.
The third suspension was extended while Duterte studies and both sides further address his concerns regarding particular aspects of the accord.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., who announced the Chief Executive's decision on Monday night, however, did not elaborate what specific aspects of the deal are being studied. (PNA)
