Opinion: Ending VFA : A Bad Move

3/07/2020 07:40:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

Photo Credits: Joshua Sales

The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) is a 21 year old agreement between the United States of America and the Republic of the Philippines to conclude or summarize the previous 1947 Military Bases Agreement (MBA), 1947 Military Assistance Agreement (MAA), and the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) wherein according to the 1947 MBA, it is a "legal mechanism to promote defense cooperation between the two countries, enhancing the preparedness of the Armed Forces of the Philippines against external threats."

The VFA stated rules and regulations for the temporary entry and exit of United States military and civilian personnel in the Philippines in addition to the movement of military vehicles and aircraft, and the import and export of equipment and supplies. It also discusses the criminal jurisdiction of US personnel when under the law of the Philippines in which it is mentioned that US visiting forces can face charges in the Philippine court if a crime is committed.

However, this agreement has ended. Last February 11, 2020, the Philippines officially sent a formal letter to the United States proclaiming the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement, together with a 178-day period for the government to review the issue.

According to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo in an interview with CNN, there is no need to review the VFA. "Wala na 'yun. Kalimutan niyo na 'yun." (It's nothing. Forget it.) He also stressed that the President will not change his decision in ending the VFA. "His position remains unchanged until the last day of his term."

Meanwhile, not all had the same nonchalant reaction as Panelo.

In an interview with ABS-CBN, Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, said that he was bothered when the government officially ended the VFA, especially right after the US government cancelled his US Visa.

"Medyo bothered din ako kahit papaano dahil parang lumalabas na I am the reason of it all, lalo na sa mga tao na ‘di makaintindi. They are there to crucify you," Dela Rosa said.

The currently detained Senator Leila De Lima, considered this move as a "geopolitical blunder" and a "grievous misstep".

"Hindi pwedeng pabayaan lang ang isang Pangulo -- lalo pa ang ganitong klaseng pangulo -- to decide all by himself on vital matters like this that impinge on our national life and our standing in the international community," she said in an interview with ABS-CBN.

Are there any advantages in terminating the VFA? According to New Worlds (Integrated Development Studies Institute) in one article in The Manila Times, terminating the VFA is “Pro-Filipino” since the VFA increases the risk of Filipinos to become the main target of US’s main enemies, just as what the late Senator Miriam Defensor had mentioned “The Philippines will have to once and for all abandon its full-spectrum dependence on America as a guarantor of its national security.”

In contrast to the claim of the VFA being Pro-Filipino, some analysts believe that the termination would probably benefit China. According to an interview with GMA political analyst Richard Heydarian in a news segment of Balitanghali (GMA News TV) , ending the VFA might give way for more "Chinese control" within our territory. "We're inviting more Chinese presence into our areas, into our Exclusive Economic Zone, and the West Philippine Sea, by distancing ourselves from our allies, no matter how questionable our alliances with the US were," Heydarian said.

In fact, it was the US Military Vessels who are also guarding the West Philippine Sea from those attempting to invade the islands, mostly being composed of Chinese Vessels. He also referred to the President's statement in which he said that he "loves China and Xi Jinping '' and that we have to be meek and humble to be able to get the mercy of China. Overall, it seems that terminating the VFA would provide a greater threat towards the Philippines’ ownership and claim over the West Philippine Sea.

Aside from guarding the West Philippine Sea, there are also reasons why terminating the VFA will not benefit the Philippines. According to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., thanks to the VFA, the Philippines will receive around 10.14 billion pesos in 2020-2021 for aircraft, training, equipment and construction for the Armed Forces of the Philippines in addition to the P2.2 billion for the foreign military financing.

Not only does the US help the Philippines in terms of military assistance, it also provides benefits such as scholarships and funding for health, agriculture, fisheries, trade, labor, etc. amounting to P17.05 billion.

The VFA, being tied to the previous agreements, MBA, MAA, MDT, might affect the benefits from the other treaties “with regards to the joint training and exercises, the pursuit of modernization, achieving interoperability and providing assistance during natural calamities” according to former Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario. An example of this is the immediate help the Philippines received from US troops after the 2013 Typhoon Yolanda. Help and donations arrived quicker compared to other countries who lack existing arrangements with the country due to the long process needed before the dissemination of supplies. There is also the possibility of the Philippines lacking help and support when it comes to modernization of equipment and assistance during emergency situations such as territorial threats or natural disasters.

Because of the closeness of the Philippines and the US thanks to the VFA and other treaties, the Philippines receives economic benefits since the US is the the Philippines’ largest source of grants with 36.89% of the total grant aid in 2018 which is almost P44.96 billion according to Locsin in addition to the US being the country’s third and fourth-largest trading partner in terms of import and export respectively.

Ending the VFA might not completely end Philippine-US relations, but might become a risk to the Philippines, because we lose someone who gives us support especially in the military aspect. What is even more threatening is, just as what GMA political analyst Richard Heydarian has said, ending the VFA would pose a threat to our territorial ownership in the West Philippine Sea. With US vessels out of the way, the Chinese would now have an easy advantage in building structures within the islands in the West Philippine Sea, and makes it even harder for us to guard what these Chinese vessels are doing there. As an effect, it would now become a further burden for us, especially to fishermen who had been bullied or harassed by Chinese vessels.

Terminating the VFA is indeed "Pro-Filipino" in such a way that the Philippines protects itself from the risks of being linked with and being dependent on the US. However, the losses and potential risks that the country may experience will be a bigger problem especially with the looming situation of China slowly invading our waters. //by Kathleen Cortez and Claire Tamayo