US President Donald Trump tried to save the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), revealed President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday.
Duterte, however, disclosed that he has made up his mind to end the decades old pact between the two countries.
The President in recent years had developed a close friendship with China while seemingly moving from the US.
In a speech, Duterte said the Americans were “disrespectful” as he claimed that the American government threatened to withhold aid if opposition Sen. Leila de Lima is not released.
De Lima has been in jail for years over drug-related charges.
“Now, I’ll make it public, public official ako (I am a public official). Si Trump, pati yung others (Trump and the others) are trying to save the Visiting Forces Agreement. Sabi ko, ayoko (I said, ‘I don’t want to),” Duterte said.
“One is that napakabastos ng Amerikano, talagang sobrang bastos. Yung mga CIA (Central Intelligence Agency), nakikinig ngayon, mga Amboy, sabihan niyo gobyerno niyo bastos kayo (Americans are very disrespectful. Really disrespectful. If the CIA is listening… tell your government, you are disrespectful). Imagine demanding the release of De Lima under threat that we will not receive the aid, that all persons who had a hand in the imprisonment of De Lima will not be allowed to go to the US?” he added.
Duterte did not provide details whether he talked to Trump personally or if his decision to end the VFA was relayed to the White House by emissaries.
After the disclosure, Duterte again denied endorsing extrajudicial killings at the gathering of local executives in Pasay City.
“What I said was do not destroy my country because if you destroy my country, I will kill you,” Duterte said.
“Sobra sila kung uminsulto kasi (They have insulted us too much), bordering on the trashing of our sovereignty… Americans went too far. Somebody has to remind them,” he added.
BENEFITS FROM VFA
The President also raised the issue whether the Philippines reaped benefits from the VFA.
“We’ve been fighting the communist for 53 years. Kung nakatulong talaga ang America, [glaring] hanggang ngayon (If America really helped us, [glaring], how come we are still dealing with it)?” he said.
He noted that there is no accounting on whether the US government brought nuclear weapons to the country.
“The Philippine Navy was able to detect a US submarine sailing over Palawan. They did not seek permission,” he added.
A notice of termination has been sent to the US government on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020.
The VFA will expire 180 days after the notice of termination is sent to the US.
Duterte first mentioned the termination of the VFA after receiving reports that the US visa of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa was cancelled.
US EMBASSY RESPONSE
The US Embassy, in response, said the move to terminate the VFA “is a serious step with significant implications for the U.S.-Philippines alliance. We will carefully consider how best to move forward to advance our shared interests.”
“Our two countries enjoy a warm relationship, deeply rooted in history. We remain committed to the friendship between our two peoples.”
READ MORE: PH termination of VFA a serious step with significant implication, says US Embassy
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