Philippines officially terminates VFA with US

[Joey G]

Takes effect in 180 days...  lots could change.

[graham59]

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr has said that the Duterte administration has received a total of $554.55 million in terms of security assistance from the US from 2016 to 2019, including $267.75 million in foreign military financing for the procurement of defense articles.

Are OFWs going to need to send even more money, with clever people like this running their country ?   

 

https://www.onenews.ph/us-offering-a-dozen-second-hand-aircraft-to-the-philippine-army

Edited February 12, 2020 by graham59

[OnMyWay]

7 hours ago, scott h said:

not just training....this goes way, way deeper.

The Phil AF is getting kobra gunships, from Jordan (who got them from the US) But just guess where the spare parts come from . Remember the F14s Iran had???? In two years all were grounded.

Kiss good by the US Navy landing troops to set up tents after a typhoon. Or helos flying inland to evacuate villages. The US will still send relief supplies, but just drop them off on the Dock.

the Specials forces in Palawan will be pulled out, not a big presence just training and advisory. But they are the conduit for all intel about the Abus and ISIS operating in Mindanao  

 

This article has some pertinent info:

https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/inside-track/251569-senior-officers-say-military-members-disagree-vfa-termination

Members of the Philippine military are generally against the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US, said two senior officers who spoke on condition of anonymity on Tuesday, February 11, hours after President Rodrigo Duterte officially ordered to scrap the deal.

Members of Duterte’s Cabinet and several senators have warned against abrogating the VFA, which allows for the regular conduct of large-scale joint military exercises, and strategic cooperation in actual missions, particularly on intelligence and surveillance in counterterrorism. (READ: Timeline: Duterte's threats to terminate the VFA)

“We don’t like the termination, of course,” one senior military officer told Rappler when asked about the sentiment within the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“It’s disadvantageous to us,” another officer – a general – told defense reporters in a message.

Without the VFA, the Philippine and US militaries would “lose the capacity to exercise meaningfully” because US troops would then be subjected to regular immigration processes such as securing visas if they were to stay in the Philippines for more than 21 days, the general said.

The VFA waived passport and visa requirements for US servicemen and women provided their full military credentials are vouched for by the US authority in charge of a particular exercise or activity in the Philippines. This paved the way for the entry of entire naval crews and marine battalions for regular drills with Filipino counterparts.

The two militaries hold an average of 300 joint activities every year, some of which run from several weeks to months, including preparations.

Pride contest

Although the two sides may revert to small-scale exercises the way they were done before the VFA’s ratification in 1999, the lack of familiarity could lead to “pataasan ng ihi” or pride contests between the two militaries, the general said.

Other Stories

PH notice of VFA termination to have 'significant implications' on relations, says U.S.
The United States says it will 'carefully consider' its next moves as it 'remains committed' to its friendship with the Philippines

U.S. defense chief: Terminating VFA 'a move in the wrong direction'
Losing the Visiting Forces Agreement would be a setback in countering China’s aggression in the Asia Pacific region, says US Defense Secretary Mark Esper

In whose interest? Netizens question gov't scrapping of VFA
‘Behold this President, his personal issues over [the] nation’s welfare,’ one netizen says

Scrapping the VFA would also entail the pullout of US troops stationed in parts of Mindanao, where they assist the AFP in intelligence gathering and surveillance in counterterrorism.

“They would have to be pulled out because without the VFA, their stay wouldn’t be covered,” the general said.

It would also put to waste effective protocols learned over the years, the general added, such as those from the 2017 battle for the city of Marawi, which was retaken from the Maute terrorist group after a 5-month siege. Intelligence sharing and tactical consultations with US forces helped the AFP eliminate the terrorist leaders and regain control of the city.

There would be disadvantages to the US, too. Losing military presence in the Philippines would leave a “central hole” in the US’ strategic cover in the Asia Pacific, because the Philippine archipelago straddles the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

‘He didn’t listen to the Cabinet’

Eventually and inevitably, bilateral relations with the US will sour, the general said.

“He didn’t listen to the Cabinet. That’s the problem,” he added.

Duterte’s order came despite Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr’s warnings against terminating the VFA – that it would not benefit Philippine interests. Instead, he recommended a “vigorous review” of the agreement.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told a Senate panel on Thursday, February 6, that the US had given $1.3 billion in aid to the Philippines’ defense establishment since 1998, the year the VFA was signed.

Duterte consulted neither Lorenzana nor Locsin before ordering the VFA’s termination, both Cabinet members told the Senate.

The Senate itself urged Duterte on Monday, February 10, to reconsider his order.

Commander-in-Chief

Duterte, who is also commander-in-chief of the military, ordered the scrapping of the VFA on January 3, after his political ally Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said that his US visa had been revoked. Duterte told the US to restore Dela Rosa’s visa within a month or else lose the VFA.

It appears Dela Rosa’s visa was cancelled as part of sanctions based on the US Senate’s application of the Global Magnitsky Act to operators of Duterte’s violent “war on drugs.” Dela Rosa, as Duterte’s first police chief, had launched and carried out “Oplan Tokhang,” the campaign that has killed at least 6,000 people by government estimates, or more than 20,000 according to rights advocates.

On Tuesday, the US embassy in Manila said in an official statement that abrogating the military pact would have "significant implications" on relations between the two countries, and that the US government "will carefully consider how best to move forward to advance our shared interests [with the Philippines].”

According to the VFA, termination begins 180 days after a notice is sent to the concerned party. – Rappler.com

[Arizona Kid]

19 minutes ago, OnMyWay said:

This article has some pertinent info:

https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/inside-track/251569-senior-officers-say-military-members-disagree-vfa-termination

Members of the Philippine military are generally against the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US, said two senior officers who spoke on condition of anonymity on Tuesday, February 11, hours after President Rodrigo Duterte officially ordered to scrap the deal.

Members of Duterte’s Cabinet and several senators have warned against abrogating the VFA, which allows for the regular conduct of large-scale joint military exercises, and strategic cooperation in actual missions, particularly on intelligence and surveillance in counterterrorism. (READ: Timeline: Duterte's threats to terminate the VFA)

“We don’t like the termination, of course,” one senior military officer told Rappler when asked about the sentiment within the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“It’s disadvantageous to us,” another officer – a general – told defense reporters in a message.

Without the VFA, the Philippine and US militaries would “lose the capacity to exercise meaningfully” because US troops would then be subjected to regular immigration processes such as securing visas if they were to stay in the Philippines for more than 21 days, the general said.

The VFA waived passport and visa requirements for US servicemen and women provided their full military credentials are vouched for by the US authority in charge of a particular exercise or activity in the Philippines. This paved the way for the entry of entire naval crews and marine battalions for regular drills with Filipino counterparts.

The two militaries hold an average of 300 joint activities every year, some of which run from several weeks to months, including preparations.

Pride contest

Although the two sides may revert to small-scale exercises the way they were done before the VFA’s ratification in 1999, the lack of familiarity could lead to “pataasan ng ihi” or pride contests between the two militaries, the general said.

Other Stories

PH notice of VFA termination to have 'significant implications' on relations, says U.S.
The United States says it will 'carefully consider' its next moves as it 'remains committed' to its friendship with the Philippines

U.S. defense chief: Terminating VFA 'a move in the wrong direction'
Losing the Visiting Forces Agreement would be a setback in countering China’s aggression in the Asia Pacific region, says US Defense Secretary Mark Esper

In whose interest? Netizens question gov't scrapping of VFA
‘Behold this President, his personal issues over [the] nation’s welfare,’ one netizen says

Scrapping the VFA would also entail the pullout of US troops stationed in parts of Mindanao, where they assist the AFP in intelligence gathering and surveillance in counterterrorism.

“They would have to be pulled out because without the VFA, their stay wouldn’t be covered,” the general said.

It would also put to waste effective protocols learned over the years, the general added, such as those from the 2017 battle for the city of Marawi, which was retaken from the Maute terrorist group after a 5-month siege. Intelligence sharing and tactical consultations with US forces helped the AFP eliminate the terrorist leaders and regain control of the city.

There would be disadvantages to the US, too. Losing military presence in the Philippines would leave a “central hole” in the US’ strategic cover in the Asia Pacific, because the Philippine archipelago straddles the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

‘He didn’t listen to the Cabinet’

Eventually and inevitably, bilateral relations with the US will sour, the general said.

“He didn’t listen to the Cabinet. That’s the problem,” he added.

Duterte’s order came despite Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr’s warnings against terminating the VFA – that it would not benefit Philippine interests. Instead, he recommended a “vigorous review” of the agreement.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told a Senate panel on Thursday, February 6, that the US had given $1.3 billion in aid to the Philippines’ defense establishment since 1998, the year the VFA was signed.

Duterte consulted neither Lorenzana nor Locsin before ordering the VFA’s termination, both Cabinet members told the Senate.

The Senate itself urged Duterte on Monday, February 10, to reconsider his order.

Commander-in-Chief

Duterte, who is also commander-in-chief of the military, ordered the scrapping of the VFA on January 3, after his political ally Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said that his US visa had been revoked. Duterte told the US to restore Dela Rosa’s visa within a month or else lose the VFA.

It appears Dela Rosa’s visa was cancelled as part of sanctions based on the US Senate’s application of the Global Magnitsky Act to operators of Duterte’s violent “war on drugs.” Dela Rosa, as Duterte’s first police chief, had launched and carried out “Oplan Tokhang,” the campaign that has killed at least 6,000 people by government estimates, or more than 20,000 according to rights advocates.

On Tuesday, the US embassy in Manila said in an official statement that abrogating the military pact would have "significant implications" on relations between the two countries, and that the US government "will carefully consider how best to move forward to advance our shared interests [with the Philippines].”

According to the VFA, termination begins 180 days after a notice is sent to the concerned party. – Rappler.com

It's a bluff. That's all. The US insulted a friend of a crazy guy by canceling his visa. Now the crazy guy goes ballistic. The senate says huh? What are you doing? Crazy guy says..I don't care..I'm the boss around these parts. If you don't restore my friends' visa I will put my entire country that needs and wants your assistance at risk. Buffoonery at it's best.  Please for the Mods I did not name the country other than the US.

[Arizona Kid]

17 minutes ago, Marvin Boggs said:

Just seems asinine to come up with a workaround Tr*mp to avoid the insertion of the word President.  I don't see what it accomplishes.  As in this example, we are discussing a situation between the presidents of two countries politely, and it seems absurd to say Pres D and Pres T.  

Oh well, not my forum. 

Maybe the owners of the forum think that if we name names..the Government will censure them. 

[Tukaram (Tim)]

Much of the military is pro-US. Big D... not so much.  Has this been approved?  Is he just blabbering, like usual? 

It would be a huge mistake for the PIs.  For the US - no big deal.

[scott h]

1 hour ago, Arizona Kid said:

Maybe the owners of the forum think that if we name names..the Government will censure them

not at all, its to keep members of the forum from each others throats, we had some real knock down drag out arguments about politics in the past. If members could keep it civil the mods would have allowed it. As it was we were hiding more comments than we were allowing. 

[Dave Hounddriver]

4 hours ago, Marvin Boggs said:

Just seems asinine to come up with a workaround Tr*mp to avoid the insertion of the word President.  I don't see what it accomplishes

It gets your post hidden.  "workarounds" of a word we do not allow on the forum are also forbidden.  Find another forum to talk about him.  For reasons of sanity we do allow certain references to the POTUS

[Kuya John]

How often do we add to a posting....."It's just my opinion"

When the head of any country uses profound language to express their opinion, they should not take offence at criticism.

Just my opinion

[Balisidar]

Mehh.

I'm going about my retirement plans like this never happened.  Applying for a 13A Visa this week.  I don't really think this will have an effect on ex-pats.