Binigyang-diin ni Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana na maaaring kanselahin ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas ang Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) sa pagitan nila ng Estados Unidos kahit na walang pagsang-ayon mula sa Senado.
Ayon kay Lorenzana na siyang vice chairman ng Philippine Commission on VFA, pupuwedeng simulan ng Pilipinas ang proseso para wakasan ang tratadong niratipikahan ng Senado noong 1999.
“The termination of the VFA may be unilaterally initiated by the Philippines, and it is well within the right of the Philippine government to do so if it determines that the agreement no longer redounds to our national interest,” wika ni Lorenzana.
“Such a termination does not need the approval of the Philippine Congress. All that is required is that a notice of termination be served to the US government. The termination shall take effect 180 days after the date of the notice,” dagdag nito.
Patuloy din aniya ang kanyang konsultasyon tungkol sa nasabing paksa kay Foreign Affairs Sec. Teodoro Locsin, na siya namang chairman ng VFA commission.
“I will discuss with the President the various scenarios concerning the possible termination of the VFA and what future actions may be undertaken by the DND and AFP regarding this matter,” anang kalihim.
Una nang sinabi ng Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na kanyang tatapusin ang VFA kung hindi ibabalik ang kinanselang US visa ni Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
