Palace open to hearing all arguments on VFA

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang officials said yesterday they would be willing to consider all arguments for and against the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States, but emphasized that the treaty is vital to addressing the country’s security concerns.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde acknowledged the statements made by administration ally Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago regarding the abrogation and renegotiation of the VFA following reports that American troops are allowed to engage in combat operations in the country, which violates the Constitution.

Remonde said that it was the prerogative of Congress to conduct inquiries on the VFA and make the appropriate recommendations about the treaty, but any decision on the fate of the accord remains with Malacañang.

“This is the prerogative of the executive and not just the Senate,” Remonde said.

He said the contingent of the House of Representatives in the Legislative Oversight Committee on the VFA did not totally agree with the position of panel chair Senator Santiago on the immediate abrogation of the VFA.

Remonde said that the Palace is not ready to make any decision on the VFA and the administration “will have to take into account all these views on this subject matter.”

“There is basis indeed to be open about it (calls for abrogation) but one case should not be enough basis to make a decision on such an important matter,” Remonde said.

Remonde cited the importance of the VFA in addressing domestic security concerns as well as the efforts to combat global terrorism since the Philippines is part of the international community.

“As the facts continue to come up for discussion, may we remind everyone that this agreement is an appropriate response to our security issues and concerns, none of which can be considered exclusively local anymore,” Remonde said.

“The waging of war is already global, as when we rely on the VFA for our oldest ally in the world to provide us with intelligence and resource support against terrorists who are no longer homegrown but are part of the global jihadist movement,” he added.

Remonde said that just like the peace process with the communist rebels and Muslim secessionists where the government has enlisted the assistance of foreign governments, the VFA is part and parcel of the country’s role in the international community.

“The days when we could hide away in our own little corner of the world are gone forever. Today we cannot avoid trading, investing, competing, engaging with the rest of the world,” Remonde said.

“This is the new mandate for effective national leadership that we must learn to accept and respect,” he added.

Remonde said that the VFA Commission should also look into the allegations that the US troops engaged in military combat operations in Mindanao.

It was not the first time that calls were made to abolish the VFA, which was enforced in 1999 on top of the Mutual Defense Treaty the Philippines has had with the US since 1951.

At the height of the controversy over the detention of American serviceman Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith who was charged and convicted of raping a Filipina, several members of Congress also pushed for the review and abrogation of the VFA because of alleged lopsided provisions that favor the US.

The government came under fire for failing to take custody of Smith, who was detained at the US embassy during trial and even when he was convicted, because of a provision under the VFA granting custody to the US government.

The government agreed to review the VFA in response to the public outcry over Smith’s custody.

The Court of Appeals, however, acquitted Smith after his victim issued a statement claiming that she is not sure if she was indeed raped by the US serviceman. The CA ordered Smith’s release and the soldier was immediately flown to a US base in Okinawa, Japan.

 Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said that abrogating the VFA is not a wise decision and would send a wrong signal to the country’s allies that the Philippines does not honor its commitments.

“Debates about the VFA are good for the public, it should be the public that would decide, but for me, if we need the US forces, it is fine with us, but if we do not need them, or if the need is not present, then we see another issue to discuss. What do we really want? Once and for all we should decide,” Teodoro said in an interview at Camp Aguinaldo.

He said that other countries that want to forge defense alliances with the Philippines would have second thoughts if the country repeals its security ties with the US. – With James Mananghaya, Christina Mendez, AP