President Benigno S. Aquino III is amenable to a thorough review of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) forged between the Philippines and the United States following renewed calls by some groups for its immediate abolition.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the President has not yet made a decision whether the government would terminate the RP-US military deal pending the study being conducted by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“The position of the President is that he is open to review the Visiting Forces Agreement,” Lacierda said in a press briefing at the Palace. “That will be studied by the DFA in consultation with the President,” he added.
 
For now, Lacierda said there are “no discussion on the abrogation” of the VFA as far as the executive branch is concerned, although the DFA has recognized the benefits of having such military deal with the United States.

“The stand of the DFA right now is that it is an agreement which they are open for review which is also helpful for the Philippines as well in terms of security in the south. Bu the DFA is open for a review of the VFA,” he said.

Lacierda said the President stands by his personal commitment made when he was a senator that VFA forged between Manila and Washington should be studied anew.  He said then Senator Aquino signed a joint resolution calling for a review of such agreement.

On questions if Congress can abolish VFA without the consent of the President, Lacierda said they would leave to lawmakers and legal experts to debate on the matter.

Lacierda added he could not say if the VFA review will be among the agenda of the President when he visits the United States next month. The President’s itinerary and agenda for the US tour have not been finalized, he added.

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has pushed to scrap the VFA, saying Congress could unilaterally terminate the agreement without the need of presidential action. Santiago filed Joint Resolution 3 asking the Foreign Affairs Secretary to give the notice of abrogation to the US.