Oversight panel to tackle proposed Visiting Forces Agreement termination

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago yesterday said she has set for hearing next week a proposed Senate resolution calling for a unilateral termination of the 10-year-old Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States.

“Under its own terms, the VFA can be terminated either by the Philippines or the US for no reason or any reason and the termination will become effective after notice to the other party within six months,” said Santiago, who chairs the legislative oversight committee on the VFA.

Santiago cited major security concerns on why the Philippines should terminate the VFA.

She said the VFA has placed the country in danger because the US is using the Philippines as its “monitoring station” on the war on terror in the region.

She said US President Barack Obama has been vocal that “there is no more war on terror and therefore there’s no more need for the Americans to stay here.”

“On the part of the Philippines, what we got was used military equipment. In other words, American junk as usual,” she said.

“We don’t need a reason but the real reason is I believe that after 10 years of operation in our country, the VFA is working more harm than good to the national interest,” she added.

Meanwhile, some 5,000 US servicemen are arriving at the Subic Bay Freeport starting today to take part in the 2009 Balikatan exercises in various areas in Luzon.

Subic authorities said 800 US Marines from the Essex Amphibious Ready Group are due today, while 4,000 others will arrive on April 23, along with the rest of the Marines. – With Bebot Sison