By Billy Begas
Three lawmakers have expressed their support to the proposed five-year renewable Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and the United States.
Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero, House Committee on Labor chairperson Eric Pineda and House Committee on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises chairperson Virgilio Lacson supported the Senate’s recommendation to keep the VFA with the US now under President Joe Biden.
Romero said a number of events, including the defeat of President Donald Trump, have happened after President Rodrigo Duterte called for the abrogation of the VFA last year.
“I think it would be in our best interest to keep the status quo at this point, particularly before we sent the notice to abrogate the VFA during the Trump administration,” said Romero.
Romero said a five-year extension, with an annual assessment, would be the more prudent thing to do at this time.
“This should include the transfer of modern warfare training and technologies as well as introduction of new state-of-the-art equipment that the country can use to combat domestic and international threats,” Romero said.
Pineda said the US presence would be crucial in the West Philippine Sea.
“Having an ally like the US – who is just like a Big Brother to us – will be very crucial for us, primarily because we also need to have an appropriate response to what China has been doing in our territorial waters, not to mention their new Coast Guard laws,” said Pineda.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III affirmed the US’ commitment to the US-Philippines alliance, the Mutual Defense Treaty, and the VFA during an introductory call with Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana early this month.
Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)
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