Palace says no to abrogation of VFA

A Palace official on Thursday said the government will have to launch an "in depth study" before entertaining calls to abrogate the controversial Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the US. In the meantime, the Palace, according to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, would continue to support the agreement, which allows US forces to be deployed in the Philippines for purposes of training their local counterparts in the fight against global terrorism. "We will have to go by in depth study by our lawmakers as well as our security people in the executive branch. And of course, this has to be concurred upon by the Senate. But for the moment we are for the stay of the VFA," said Ermita after attending a hearing of the Legislative Oversight Committee on the VFA. The bicameral panel called the hearing to review the pact amid reports that US forces in the Philippines have been engaged in combat operations, in violation of the VFA. [See: Battle of definitions mars VFA bicam hearing] Ermita said since the VFA is a type of agreement concerning "high level matters," the Palace could not simply resort to "knee jerk" reaction simply because a number of sectors are opposing it. "It is to the interest of the Philippines that we have this VFA as an agreement falling under the Mutual Defense Treaty since 1951. It provides the proper security balance and the stability in the Philippines," Ermita said in stressing the treaty's importance to national security. Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, chair of the Senate foreign affairs committee, and former Senate President Jovito Salonga joined voices in calling for the junking of what they branded as a "vague" agreement during the bicameral hearing. Santiago co-chairs the oversight committee, together with Rep. Antonio Cuenco of Cebu City. The hearing was conducted amid reports that the US government has chosen to extend the stay of some of its 600 soldiers in Mindanao. Military whistleblower Lt. Senior Grade Nancy Gadian also earlier accused the US forces of engaging in combat operations in Mindanao and erecting "permanent" structures in the region, both violations of the agreement, according to anti-VFA supporters. Santiago said she would be filing next week a resolution urging for the VFA's abrogation. Also on Thursday afternoon, Salonga led a group of anti-VFA supporters asking the Supreme Court to reconsider an earlier decision in favor of the treaty. Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan also urged the Palace to summon US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney to get her comment to another of Gadian's claim, concerning alleged prostitution of Filipino women for US servicemen. "She claimed that both Philippine and US military officials were aware of the flesh trade right inside the military facilities," Pangilinan told reporters at the Senate. [See: US troops joined combat in Mindanao, says Navy whistleblower] US Embassy spokesperson Rebecca Thompson on Thursday stressed that their soldiers are not involved in combat operations. “They are in the Philippines on temporary deployment to support and share information with the AFP, under the terms of VFA and at the invitation of the AFP and GRP," Thompson said. - GMANews.TV