MANILA, Philippines – Senators may file before the Supreme Court next week the petition questioning the country’s termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States without the concurrence of the Senate, Senator Panfilo Lacson said.
In a press conference on Thursday, Lacson said they are now finalizing the petition before taking it to the high court.
“Next week ipa-file yan. We’re not sure yet who among the senators will sign the petition as co-petitioners. But I for one will join the SP (Senate President Vicente Sotto III) in the filing of the petition as a co-petitioner,” he said.
Sotto earlier said that some senators from the majority and minority blocs are interested in joining them in contesting the scrapping of the military pact.
They believe that it is only the Supreme Court that can rule with finality on the issue since the Philippine Constitution is “silent” when it comes to the termination of treaties and international agreements.
Under the Constitution, the Senate’s concurrence is required before a treaty can be ratified.
The Senate has filed a similar petition in the SC in 2018 asserting the upper chamber’s right to have a say in President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to pull out the Philippines from the International Criminal Court.
Aside from senators, Lacson also claimed that a number of Cabinet members “have apprehensions and reservations” about Duterte’s decision to scrap the VFA.
“Nag-e-express sila pero lagi sila nananantsa ba, na kung how to bring it to his attention, how to dissuade him from proceeding sa abrogation. And sa tingin lang mukhang made up ang mind ni PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte). But there are times na medyo parang lumalambot. But that’s where we are right now,” he said.
“Ang mga nakausap namin halos unanimous sila magsabi, not really against, but meron silang apprehensions and reservations sa pag-abrogate. Wala pa akong nakausap na all-out in supporting PRRD to abrogate,” he added.
The VFA between Washington and Manila came into force in 1999. It outlines the guidelines about the treatment of their troops when visiting the US or the Philippines. It includes provisions on visa and passport policies for US troops and the American government’s right to retain jurisdiction over its personnel, among others.
Earlier this month, Duterte ordered the formal termination of the VFA following the US’ move to cancel the visa of his ally, former National Police chief and now Senator Ronald Dela Rosa.
Duterte has also repeatedly criticized the US for its ‘disrespectful’ actions including meddling in the country’s internal affairs.
The military deal will be effectively terminated on August 9 or 180 days from the US’ receipt of the notice of termination.
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