Drilon backs VFA review

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Franklin Drilon is supportive of the Palace review of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States.

Drilon said it is time to review the VFA and ensure that its provisions are not disadvantageous to the country.

“I voted for the VFA before... It should be reviewed to make sure that our sovereignty is not stepped upon once more,” Drilon said over radio station dzBB.

But Drilon contradicted the stand of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago that the review cannot be done without the participation of Congress.

Drilon and Santiago, two of the Senate’s legal luminaries, clashed over the Palace’s move to review the VFA on the level of the executive branch. 

“As a matter of separation of powers, the review of the VFA is the duty of the executive branch and the Senate ratifies. Otherwise, the Senate will be compromised if they are included in the review because it cannot exercise its power to review,” Drilon said.

“The most that the Palace can do is to consult the Senate about certain provisions but not include the Senate in the panel formed for the renegotiation of the VFA,” he said.

“It’s right that we can either concur or reject. There can be a consultation (wherein the Palace) can ask the Senate regarding some portions of the agreement,” he added.