The VFA is here to stay, says Palace official

From GMANews (Nov 19): The VFA is here to stay, says Palace official

Following reports that Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago will file a resolution Monday to file a joint resolution calling for the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and the United States, a Malacañang official reiterated that the VFA is here to stay. Santiago and Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello will file the resolution in light of their outrage over the dumping of toxic waste by a US Navy-contracted vessel 37 kilometers off Subic Bay. But while the Palace says Santiago has every right to file the resolution, they are not worried over the status of the VFA, which has allowed the presence of US military forces in the country for 13 years. “We respect the prerogative of a Senator to file the resolution that he or she sees fit and the people involved have already indicated their willingness to attend any meeting or to shed light on any matter in that respect. But clearly this does not affect the Visiting Forces Agreement,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a Monday briefing. Lacierda added that even Santiago is not confident that the measure will pass, citing the senator’s reply in an earlier interview with reporters. “Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago was asked if, based on the news reports that what are the chances of this succeeding, and she giggled and said no,” Lacierda recalled. For her part, Santiago also earlier said that while she was not confident the resolution will gain enough support from members of congress, it will get the ball rolling towards the ending of the VFA. “We can start the movement now,” Santiago added. Lacierda reiterated that rather than a political issue, the dumping of waste in the Subic Bay is an environmental issue. “This is an environmental issue, this is a marine pollution issue regardless of whether one is covered by VFA or not. As long as you traverse within Philippine waters, [you] have to abide by our anti-marine pollution laws,” he said.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/282902/news/nation/the-vfa-is-here-to-stay-says-palace-official