Search Result for “VFA”
Duterte can scrap VFA anytime, Palace tells Lacson
February 17, 2021, 12:32 pm
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte can terminate the Philippines’ Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States (US) anytime, Malacañang said on Wednesday. This, after Senator Panfilo Lacson said the Senate’s concurrence is needed before Duterte can abrogate the military pact… Read More
PH has 'right to expect' lethal parity measures in MDT: Locsin
February 16, 2021, 8:04 pm
MANILA – Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Tuesday underscored that Manila has a right to "expect some measure of lethal parity" in its Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States. Citing history, Locsin said it was assumed that the Philippines could hold up its end of the… Read More
Palace floats possibility of reviewing MDT, EDCA anew
February 16, 2021, 5:05 pm
MANILA – Malacañang on Tuesday floated anew the possibility of reviewing the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the United States (US), stressing that both failed to prevent the entry of Chinese forces in… Read More
Robredo should know my functions under the Constitution: Duterte
February 16, 2021, 8:25 am
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night criticized two elected officials for supposedly interfering with his job empowered only in the president by the 1987 Constitution. In a taped public address, Duterte urged Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson to… Read More
Demand for US compensation over VFA ‘not extortion’
February 15, 2021, 6:11 pm
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte's demand to make the United States "pay" if it wants to continue its Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the Philippines is in line with the country’s national interest and not to extort money from the US government, Malacañang said Monday. In a Palace… Read More
PRRD admits being on a 'tightrope', avoiding conflict with China
February 12, 2021, 8:00 pm
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte admitted on Friday that he is on a “tightrope” as he could not afford to provoke China, which he considers as a “friend”. Duterte made the admission, as he emphasized the need to maintain the Philippines’ improved ties with China. “I am walking on a… Read More
US-PH defense meet held Feb. 11: DFA chief
February 11, 2021, 7:03 pm
MANILA – Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Thursday confirmed that a bilateral meeting on defense between the Philippines and the United States was held on Feb. 11. He, however, declined to provide further details, saying he would neither grant any media interviews nor issue a… Read More
Defense sector, military hoping for VFA continuation: Lorenzana
February 11, 2021, 2:32 pm
MANILA – While the final decision on the fate of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) is up to President Rodrigo Duterte, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the defense sector and the military are hoping that it will remain in effect. "Well, we at the Defense Department and the Armed Forces,… Read More
Austin affirms commitment to US-PH mutual defense treaty
February 10, 2021, 12:33 pm
MANILA – The United States, through the Pentagon, has affirmed its commitment to its defense alliance with the Philippines, particularly the Mutual Defense Treaty and the Visiting Forces Agreement. The commitment was made during a phone call between Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and US… Read More
Duterte sends best wishes to Biden, Harris
January 21, 2021, 3:08 pm
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has sent his best wishes to newly-installed United States (US) President Joseph “Joe” Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Malacañang said on Thursday. “Our President Rodrigo Roa Duterte sends his warmest greetings and the best wishes to 46th… Read More
PRRD to maintain ‘warm’ relations with Biden: Panelo
January 20, 2021, 7:02 pm
MANILA – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will keep a “warm and friendly” relationship with the United States (US) under the presidency of Joe Biden, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said on Wednesday. In a press statement, Panelo was confident that Duterte would continue… Read More
DFA in 2020, mounting one of PH's largest repat flights
January 1, 2021, 6:01 pm
MANILA – As the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic shuttered businesses and displaced workers across the globe, among the hardest-hit are migrant workers, some of whom had no choice but to return home. Following this, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in February began its… Read More
Threat to scrap VFA not blackmail, but independent foreign policy
December 28, 2020, 4:48 pm
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte is not "blackmailing" the United States, the Philippines’ longtime ally, in a bid to secure US-made vaccines for the country but is just exercising independent foreign policy, Malacañang said on Monday. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this comment… Read More
Duterte ‘ties’ suspension of VFA termination to Pfizer vaccine
December 27, 2020, 11:37 am
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte warned that he would not order another suspension of the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States (US) even if the Philippines fails to secure coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines from Pfizer. Duterte issued the warning… Read More
PRRD studying US push for longer suspension of VFA abrogation
November 24, 2020, 7:19 pm
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte is studying the request of US President Donald Trump's National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien for a longer suspension of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) abrogation, Malacañang said on Tuesday. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this remark after… Read More
Suspension of VFA termination 'sound, strategic': solon
November 13, 2020, 1:20 pm
MANILA – A lawmaker on Friday said the government’s decision to extend the suspension of the Visiting Forces Agreement’s (VFA) abrogation was “sound and strategic”, considering the outcome of the United States elections. Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffy Biazon said the recent move would give… Read More
US lauds extended suspension of VFA termination
November 12, 2020, 12:11 pm
MANILA – The United States Embassy in Manila on Thursday welcomed the Philippine government's decision to suspend the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) for another six months. "We welcome the Government of the Philippines’ November 11 decision to suspend termination of the… Read More
PH extends suspension of VFA termination
November 11, 2020, 4:06 pm
MANILA – The Philippine government has extended the suspension of the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) for another six months, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. announced on Wednesday. Locsin said this would allow the Philippines and the United States "to find a more… Read More
Palace hopes Biden admin eases immigration policies for Pinoys
November 9, 2020, 4:05 pm
MANILA – Malacañang on Monday expressed hope that the US government under President-elect Joe Biden will relax immigration policies that took the restrictive approach during the term of outgoing US President Donald Trump. In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque was… Read More
AFP to abide by PRRD decision on VFA fate
November 5, 2020, 6:03 pm
MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday said it will abide by President Rodrigo R. Duterte's guidance regarding the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States after its termination was put on hold. "We will abide fully by the final… Read More
