Philippine military says it benefits from VFA with US, but will respect Duterte's decision | ABS-CBN

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Philippine military says it benefits from VFA with US, but will respect Duterte's decision

Philippine military says it benefits from VFA with US, but will respect Duterte's decision

ABS-CBN News

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MANILA - The Armed Forces of the Philippines said Thursday it benefits from the country's Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States, the abrogation of which was initially ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte early this year but later suspended due to the COVID-19 crisis and other developments in the region.

"From the perspective of AFP, the Visiting Forces Agreement translates to joint and interoperability training opportunities to benefit both the Philippines and the United States of America," said AFP spokesman Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo.

But Arevalo, who is also the commander of the AFP Education, Training, and Doctrine Command, refused to comment if the military favors delaying the abrogation.

He said the military will follow the decision of Duterte.

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"We will await the final decision of the President with regard to the VFA. But from our perspective, we see the VFA to be interoperability and training opportunities that would benefit not only the the Philippine armed forces but the United States armed forces as well," said Arevalo.

The Department of Foreign Affairs notified the US last February about the termination of the 1998 agreement which provides legal cover to military exercises between US and Philippine troops.

It was the government's reaction after the US cancelled the visa of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, a former national police chief who first led the Duterte administration's war on drugs.

The termination of the VFA was supposed to take effect in August, 180 days after the notice was served.

But in June, the Philippines informed the US that it was suspending the abrogation due to the pandemic.

In a diplomatic note, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. said the suspension of the abrogation will be in effect for six months, extendible by Duterte for another six months, “after which the tolling of the initial period” contained in the February note verbale will resume.

On Wednesday, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the government will likely request another 6-month delay in the VFA abrogation.

“That (suspension) has an option of being further extended by another six months. So, my thinking is, perhaps the President will invoke the second six-month time to finally abrogate the VFA,” Roque said.

When asked if he favors the delay of the abrogation, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said: "On the VFA, I know nothing of PRRD’s instructions."

"Ask Harry. He may know things I don’t," he added.

The VFA, which governs the conduct of American troops in the Philippines during military exercises, is anchored on the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty of Manila and Washington.

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Impeachment trial can only extend if started in 19th Congress — retired justice

Impeachment trial can only extend if started in 19th Congress — retired justice

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

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MANILA — The impeachment process for Vice President Sara Duterte must start during the 19th Congress or it could raise issues of jurisdiction if it extends into the 20th Congress, retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna said Wednesday.

Senate President Francis Escudero earlier said the impeachment trial may possibly begin after the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in July.

"Hindi kailangan tapusin ang paglilitis under the 19th Congress. Pero dapat umpisahan dahil kapag hindi inumpisahan, baka yung jurisdiction ng tribunal hindi ma-attach and it will be too late to attach it to 20th Congress," Azcuna said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

(The trial does not have to end under the 19th Congress, but it has to start. If it doesn't start, the jurisdiction of the tribunal might not be attached and it will be too late to attach it in the 20th Congress)

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Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino said that can be clarified by the Supreme Court but not yet.

"Ano palang seven days [since na-file] so hindi pa masyadong ripe for adjudication to clarify the word 'forthwith'. Siguro pag tumagal na ng isang buwan...'ano ba yung fortwith?'," he shared.

(It has only been seven days, so it's not yet ripe for adjudication to clarify the word 'forthwith'. Maybe in a month)

Azcuna said the trial proper can wait "but taking the oath is the important part", adding the impeachment court has to be convened.

"Once they convene, they will acquire jurisdiction over the impeachment complaint." 

Tolentino agreed that the convening would signal the start of the trial.

"That is the time, you're correct, that we can now start the process," he said.

Escudero has maintained the Senate already has jurisdiction over the case and the "subject matter of impeachment."

He added: "Wala pa kaming jurisdiction sa katawan ng nasasakdal, si VP Sara, hanggang hindi siya na-aarraign."

(We do not have jurisdiction over the person of the respondent, VP Sara, until she is arraigned)

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