Malacañang has confirmed that the Philippines has officially sent the notice to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement to the United States.
Malacañang said that the notice has been sent and signed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddyboy Locsin Jr. to the US government on Tuesday.
“The President directed the Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to tell Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin of the Foreign Affairs to send a notice of termination to the US government last night and the Executive Secretary sent the message to Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin and the latter signed the notice of termination… and sent to the US government today,” Presidential spokesman Panelo said in a press briefing.
Panelo said that the termination will take effect 180 days from now.
Locsin also tweeted that Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy has received the notice of termination.
“As a diplomatic courtesy, there will be no further factual announcements following this self-explanatory development,” Locsin said in a tweet.
President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to terminate the VFA following the cancellation of Senator Bato Dela Rosa’s visa.
The government signed the agreement with the US in 1998.
