Duterte Could Suspend VFA Abrogation For Second Time Amid US Elections
DUTERTE COULD SUSPEND VFA ABROGATION – President Rodrigo Duterte could suspend the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States for the second time.
Amid the US Presidential elections, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte may opt for another six-month extension to decide. During an interview with CNN, Roque said:
So my thinking is, perhaps the President will invoke the second six-month time to finally abrogate the VFA…
But anyway, what I am saying is, there is no immediate rush for the President to decide because the notification we sent to the Americans gives them at least one-year leeway before it’s abrogated,
Meanwhile, Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffy Biazon stated that pushing through with the extension of the VFA suspension would make sense. He explained that this was due to the possibility of a new administration coming to the United States.
During an interview with TV5’s One News, Biazaon said:
Because of the US elections, then we will know whether President Trump will be re-elected or former vice president Joe Biden will become the new president
Moreover, he said a new administration in the US may mean a change in US foreign policy. As such, the Philippines extending the suspension of the VFA agreement allows the country to negotiate a better agreement.
The first extension of the VFA abrogation was on June 2. During that time, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said Duterte gave an order to suspend the VFA termination. Locsin explained that it was “in light of political and other developments in the region”.
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