DFA: RP must continue to reap benefits from Visiting Forces Agreement

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines must continue to reap benefits from the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) because it reinforces the government’s efforts to use “hard and soft” power to deal with insurgency in Mindanao, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Enrique Manalo, who represented the DFA during the Legislative Oversight Committee on the VFA hearing at the Senate on Thursday, said the defense pact has repeatedly been reaffirmed as being “fully consistent with Philippine laws with its very existence subjected to the rigors of inquiry by the Supreme Court, not once but three times.”  

Manalo said the VFA is an essential instrument that allows the RP-US alliance to function properly. It provides the legal framework for the presence of US forces on Philippine territory.

“Without these forces, we would not be able to have joint exercises to train together or to receive the support so badly needed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and law enforcement agencies,” Manalo said.

Despite the end of the Cold War, Manalo said the Philippines continues to face threats to national security, both at home and abroad. 

Though significantly degraded, he said the al Qaeda-linked terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group and Jemaah Islamiyah remain dangerous, but cooperation through the VFA strengthens the Philippines’ counter-terrorism and the US recognizes the country’s important contributions in the common international effort to fight terrorism. 

“With US assistance extended under the VFA, many Abu Sayyaf members, including Khadafy Janjalani, ASG spokesperson Abu Solaiman, and ASG sub commander Ismin Sahiron, were killed or captured.”

The VFA permits the AFP to access new defense technologies, systems, best practices, models and information that can be adapted to suit Philippine requirements. 

Without such access, Manalo said the already difficult and expensive task of Philippine defense modernization would be severely hampered.

He cited the 15-year AFP Modernization Program approved in 1995 under Republic Act 7898 has received funding amounting to about P28 billion over 13 years.

Total US military and defense assistance to the Philippines for 10 years (from 1999-2009) amounted to about P20.17 billion, or an average of around P2 billion annually. 

Between 2001 and 2008, USAID provided around $312 million in grants in support of a lasting peace and a better life for the people of Mindanao.

Part of the assistance went towards the reintegration of about 28,000 former MNLF combatants into mainstream society.

Meantime, Senate Defense Committee chairman Sen. Rodolfo Biazon said he is bent on voting for the junking of the agreement as he described it as “non-transparent.”

Biazon was surprised that even an official of the Palace supposed to look after the VFA provisions is not aware of the existing rules of engagements, particularly the alleged participation of the US troops in ground operations as revealed by whistle-blower former navy officer Lt. Senior Grade Nancy Gadian. – Pia Lee Brago, Roel Pareno, Aurea Calica