Demand for US compensation over VFA ‘not extortion’

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 15,2021): Demand for US compensation over VFA ‘not extortion’ (By Azer Parrocha)

President Rodrigo Duterte's demand to make the United States "pay" if it wants to continue its Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the Philippines is in line with the country’s national interest and not to extort money from the US government, Malacañang said Monday.

In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque rejected how Vice President Leni Robredo likened Duterte's demand for US to pay before he reconsiders his decision to scrap the VFA to extortion.

“Sa mga nagsasabing extortion, hindi po ‘yan extortion. ‘Yan po ay isang pagtaguyod ng pang-nasyonal na interes ng mga Pilipino at dahil marami po tayong gastusin lalung-lalo na sa Covid-19 (To those calling it extortion, it’s not extortion. That’s in line with the national interest of Filipinos because we are spending a lot especially in terms of Covid-19 response),” he said.

Roque said seeking compensation from the US could also be additional funding for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp (PhilHealth)’s Universal Health Care (UHC) program.

“Bakit hindi tayo sumingil ng sa ganun yung perang makukuha natin magagamit natin para sa Covid response natin, para sa libreng pakain ng ating mga estudyante, para po sa Universal Health Care, para sa libreng patubig. Lahat po ‘yan kinakailangan ng pondo (Why don’t we seek compensation because the money we get can be used for our Covid-19 response, free meals for our students, for the Universal Health Care, for free water services. All those need funding),” he said.

He appealed to Duterte’s critics not to deny poor Filipinos of the chance to have better lives.

“Huwag naman natin ipagkait sa ating mga kababayan ang karagdagang pondo ngayong puwede naman talaga pagbayarin ang mga Amerikano para sa paggamit ng ating teritoryo (Let’s not deny our citizens additional funds if we can ask America to pay for using our territory),” he added.

Roque also pointed out how little the US has been spending for its security assistance to the Philippines compared to other countries.

Citing a report by the Washington-based think tank Stimson Center, Roque said the Philippines received a total of USD3.9 billion from 2002 to 2017 for counterterrorism efforts while Pakistan got USD16.4 billion.

“Pakistan got USD16 billion, we think we should get something similar or close to that amount. But definitely, not the amount we are currently getting,” he said.

He did not exactly explain how the government determined benchmarking its military assistance needs to that of Pakistan, but cited strong ties between the Philippines and US as basis for seeking a higher compensation.

"We are basing it on the fact that we have had historically very strong ties and if you have very strong ties with a very strong ally, then I think it also comes with a higher amount of financial assistance to be given," he said.

He said that should the US decide not to pay the Philippines, the VFA termination will proceed as scheduled.

“I think the President has been clear, he wants compensation. If the Americans don’t agree, then there is also the previous declaration of the Filipino President that he will terminate the VFA,” he said.

On VFA’s importance

Asked to comment on criticism that the President’s demand is an undiplomatic move as it puts the Philippines in a bad light, Roque emphasized that Duterte remains chief architect of foreign policy.

“Diplomacy is only about niceties, but the policy remains the sole prerogative of the President because the President is the sole architect of foreign policy. So, that is the policy of the President either way you put it,” he said.

Roque also doubted experts’ remarks that the presence of US troops in the country has been helpful in terms of protecting Philippine territories.

“Hindi ko po alam kasi matagal na iyang VFA eh nagkaproblema naman po tayo diyan sa West Philippine Sea (I don’t know because VFA has been there a long time but we still have problems there in the West Philippine Sea),” he said.

Despite the VFA and Mutual Defense Treaty, he said the US has consistently told the Philippines that the pact does not obligate them to defend Philippine territory rights in the disputed waters.

“Kung talagang tinupad ng Amerika iyong kanyang obligasyon na bigyan tayo ng saklolo kapag tayo ay nilusob ay marami ng pagkakataon, nawala na sa atin iyong isang isla, hindi lang Panatag ‘no, eh hindi naman po tumulong ang Amerika. Ang naging consistent position ng Amerika pagdating doon sa pinag-aagawang teritoryo sa West Philippine Sea (If America really fulfilled its obligation to give us help when we were attacked, we already lost an island, not just Panatag’ no, but America did not help. America's consistent position when it comes to the disputed territory in the West Philippine Sea is) ‘America does not take sides on the ongoing territorial controversy,’” he said.

In February 2020, the Philippines formally notified the US about its intent to revoke the VFA.

However, the VFA remains in effect after Duterte ordered on June 1 last year the suspension of VFA termination “in light of political and other developments in the region”.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1130699