MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday stood by his decision to unilaterally terminate the Philippines’ Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States, rejecting possible discussions on the matter.

Duterte said he would not back out of his decision to abrogate the military pact even after some senators asked the Supreme Court to clarify the Senate's role in the cancellation of treaties following his move.

"I am not reneging on the VFA and I am not going to America to discuss this with anybody though I respect highly of [US President Donald] Trump,” the President said during a late-night press briefing.

“They cannot compel me. I refuse to be compelled. I have terminated it. Tapos ang problema ko. Wala na akong problema diyan. Insofar as I am concerned, we are beginning to count the 180 days for them to pack up and go," he said.

The law requires Senate approval before the President can enter treaties with other countries, but the Constitution does not specify if the same applies to the cancellation of accords, Senate President Vicente Sotto III earlier told reporters.

Sotto filed the petition at the high court appealing for declaratory relief and mandamus against the offices of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. over the VFA abrogation.

A declaratory relief is a statement by a court regarding the supremacy of national law, while mandamus compels a person to perform a public duty.

• Senators ask SC to clarify Senate’s role in treaty termination

Malacañang earlier said that all Cabinet members are in support of President Duterte’s decision to abrogate the VFA.

• All Cabinet Members back Duterte on VFA termination: Palace

Duterte pulled out of the accord, which governs the conducts of American troops in the Philippines, after Washington canceled the visa of his ally, Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa, who headed the government’s war on drugs when he served as national police chief.

If seeking the Supreme Court’s clarification was a move to win Filipino voters in the United States, the President urged his countrymen in Washington to support US President Donald Trump.

“And if that was a political move by the senators to win the Filipino votes there, I’m telling the Filipino now, you are getting the best of deal with Trump,” he said.