Philippines gives formal notice to scrap US troop agreement

The agreement, signed in 1998, gives legal status to thousands of US troops rotated in the country for humanitarian assistance and military exercises

It is the first time Duterte has scrapped an agreement with the US, having throughout his more than three years in office denounced Washington

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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte pictured in January. Photo: EPA

Published: 2:45pm, 11 Feb 2020Updated: 3:12pm, 11 Feb 2020

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has given formal notice to the United States of his decision to scrap a bilateral Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), officials said on Tuesday, following through on a repeated threat to downgrade the defence alliance.

The mercurial Duterte, who has made no secret of his grudge with the United States and his disdain for his country’s close military relationship, believed it was time to be more militarily independent, his spokesman said.

“It’s about time we rely on ourselves, we will strengthen our own defences and not rely on any other country,” Salvador Panelo told a regular briefing, quoting Duterte.

Defence ties between the Philippines and former colonial ruler the US go back to the early 1950s and are governed by a Mutual Defence Treaty, which remains intact, along with an Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement made under the Obama administration.

Ronald dela Rosa pictured while Philippine National Police chief in 2017. Photo: Reuters

Duterte made the decision after the top commander of his war on drugs, former police chief Ronald dela Rosa, said his US visa had been rescinded over an issue related to the detention of a senator and top critic of Duterte.

The VFA, signed in 1998, accords legal status to thousands of US troops rotated in the country for humanitarian assistance and military exercises, dozens of which take place annually.

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