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Bato agrees abrogating troop pact with US: Salbahe 'yong mga tao na 'yon

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Feb 19 09:12 PM

Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa expressed no qualms Wednesday over the Philippines' termination of its Visiting Forces Agreement with its longtime ally the United States, saying Washinton has been "disrespecting" and "intruding" Manila's sovereignty. Read more »

VFA 'whipping boy' Dela Rosa won't back Senate assertion on right to treaty abrogation

Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Feb 18 08:34 PM

Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Tuesday said he would not support the Senate's move to assert before the Supreme Court that the executive branch needs the concurrence of the legislative chamber in scrapping treaties. Read more »

VFA termination 'reboot' of PH-US military ties - diplomat

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Feb 18 07:25 PM

Scrapping the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) is just a "reboot" of the military ties between the Philippines and United States, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel "Babes" Romauldez said Tuesday.   Read more »

OPINION: What Democracy?

Edmund Tayao
Posted at Feb 18 12:30 AM

You have to ask yourself this question first before engaging into a debate even quarrel with a colleague, a friend, or even a relative on a fundamental issue of “democracy”.  Read more »

Senate working on petition to 'assert' right in cancelation of treaties: Sotto

Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Feb 17 06:31 PM

Senate leaders are finalizing a petition seeking to "assert" its role in the abrogation of treaties, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Monday, following the Duterte administration's move to withdraw from the Philippines' Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States. Read more »

OPINION: The Philippine strongman's missed opportunities

Karim Raslan — Ceritalah ASEAN
Posted at Feb 17 04:43 PM

The question must be asked: has President Duterte squandered the chance to transform his nation? Read more »

OPINION: Duterte's choices: Why we can't beat drug scourge

Inday Espina-Varona
Posted at Feb 17 12:02 PM

Candidate Rodrigo Duterte campaigned in 2016 to rid the Philippines of drugs in six months. After almost four years of painting urban alleys red, with thousands of poor drug suspects dead in police operations and "vigilante" executions, Duterte’s program is a failure. Read more »

The ANC Brief: Mutual admiration club

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Feb 17 04:56 AM

Even as US President Trump managed to reduce the term of the VFA to an issue of money, President Duterte still had fond words for Trump. Read more »

Security analyst: It's time for PH to be self-reliant in improving its military capability

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Feb 16 04:59 PM

The termination of the visiting forces agreement with the United States signals an era where the Philippines can improve its military capability.  Read more »

Palace: If Trump were in Duterte’s place, he would scrap VFA too

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Feb 15 10:00 PM

Trump said he was “fine” with the VFA being terminated, a response that pleased Duterte. “(Trump) deserves to be re-elected,” the Palace says, quoting Duterte. Read more »

US defense chief says PH decision to scrap VFA a 'move in the wrong direction'

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Feb 13 11:46 PM

A security analyst sees China lording it over the West Philippine Sea if the Philippines cuts military ties with the United States. Read more »

Defense analysts nagbabala sa epekto ng pagbasura sa VFA

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Feb 13 09:40 PM

Tinawag ni US Defense Secretary Mark Esper na "move in the wrong direction" o hakbang papunta sa maling direksyon ang desisyon ng Pilipinas na ibasura ang VFA. Read more »

'You’re welcome,' Duterte spox tells Trump on VFA termination

Arianne Merez, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Feb 13 05:01 PM

The Philippine presidential office on Thursday returned the courtesy to United States President Donald Trump after he thanked Manila for the money that it would save over the termination of the two countries' Visiting Forces Agreement. Read more »

Top US commander warns Philippines rift could hurt terrorism fight

Agence France-Presse
Posted at Feb 13 04:07 PM

A top US commander warned ending a security pact with the Philippines' would hurt counter-terrorism efforts in the country's restive south Thursday, putting him at odds with commander-in-chief Donald Trump. Read more »

Senate may question end of US military pact before Supreme Court: Sotto

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Feb 13 11:24 AM

Senators may question the executive branch's unilateral termination of a key deal in the Philippines' military alliance with the US, Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto said Thursday.    Read more »

Philippine, US troop drills to proceed before VFA ends: defense chief

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Feb 13 11:09 AM

Military exercises between Philippine and US troops will proceed while the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) "remains in force" during a 6-month countdown after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered it scrapped, Manila's defense chief said Thursday. Read more »

'Mukhang ayaw niya na rin': Duterte may also scrap EDCA, says Panelo

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Feb 13 11:29 AM

President Rodrigo Duterte does not want to renegotiate the country's Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US, his spokesman said Thursday. Read more »

PH won't seek military pacts with other nations: Palace

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Feb 13 09:53 AM

The Philippines will strengthen its military forces on its own and won't be seeking visiting forces agreements with other countries, Malacañang said Thursday after Manila terminated its military deal with the US. Read more »

'We'll save a lot of money': Trump 'fine' with end of Philippines military pact

Agence France-Presse
Updated as of Feb 13 07:27 AM

US President Donald Trump dismissed concerns Wednesday about the Philippines canceling a major military accord, saying the decision would save Americans money. Read more »

PH in talks with 4 countries for VFA deal

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Feb 12 11:31 PM

The United States, dismayed by the Philippines' decision to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement, calling it a move in the wrong direction. Read more »