Defense chief urges ratification of SOFA with Australia

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro on Sunday appealed to the Senate to immediately ratify the Philippines’ Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with Australia. “Well, as soon as possible. We (defense department) were hoping that they (Senate) review it and approve it as soon as possible because Australia has already done so," said Teodoro when asked about the urgency of the SOFA ratification. The SOFA was signed by the defense departments of the Philippines and Australia about six months ago. The SOFA needs to be ratified by the Senate before it becomes a binding agreement. Former Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdanes signed the agreement on behalf of the Philippines, while his counterpart, Brendan Nelson, did so for Australia. The agreement signing was witnessed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Australian Prime Minister John Howard. SOFA is forged between a host country and a foreign nation’s military forces. Under the agreement, the legal position of the military forces deployed in the territory of a friendly state is defined. The SOFA provides the legal framework that sets down the rights, responsibilities and procedures involving military activities between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Australian Defense Forces. - GMANews.TV