Malacañang is ready to heed the Supreme Court’s decision should it rule that the Senate’s concurrence is needed to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States. With the government’s notice to terminate the VFA, the agreement is set to expire on Aug. 9, or 180 days after the American government received the notice. The MBC raised its reservations more than a week after the Duterte administration notified the United States that it is ending the VFA. But more than that, it said it was important to have strong ties with the United States because of economic reasons. Mr. Duterte had earlier threatened to revoke the VFA after the United States canceled the visa of his political ally Sen. Ronald dela Rosa over alleged violations of human rights.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer February 21, 2020 20:37 UTC