miriam-defensor-santiago
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago which is now running for the 2016 presidential election is calling on the government to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, as she regretted that the Supreme Court neglected to ascend from its controversial 2009 decision on the VFA.

Sen. Santiago said that the Supreme Court likewise failed on the ruling with regards to the constitutionality of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Also, Read this:  Supreme Court declared Philippines and United States “EDCA” military agreement constitutional

Santiago is standing with Senate Resolution No. 105 she authored saying without Senate concurrence, any treaty or international agreement, including the EDCA, is invalid.

On Sunday, Santiago called for her colleagues in the Senate to ask for a renegotiation or abrogation of the VFA.

Santiago said in a statement that ” The Philippine sovereignty, as well as the rights and dignity of its citizens, suffered immensely during the 17 years of operation of the VFA. Let us assert our sovereignty and call for the total abrogation of this agreement.”

According to Santiago, “The executive claims that it is not a treaty but merely an executive agreement, and it was not submitted to the Senate for concurrence. The flaw of the VFA, meanwhile, lies in the fact that it is not considered a treaty by the U.S.”

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U.S. President Barack Obama with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III., photo credit to newsflash.org

The Senator explained that in the Constitution it is clear that if an agreement pertains to foreign military bases, troops, or facilities, it…

  1. must be in the form of a treaty
  2. must be concurred in by the Senate, and
  3. must be recognized as a treaty by the other contracting state.

She said that Malacañang could have cured the EDCA of constitutional infirmity by considering it a treaty and submitting it to the Senate for concurrence.

“But instead of abiding by the Constitution in which President Aquino sworn to protect, he openly defied it by striking a deal concerning foreign bases, troops, or facilities through an executive agreement,” Sen. Santiago added. – Carl E.

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4 COMMENTS

  1. Ang ptanginang Sen Tililing na ito naiwan yata ang utak nito sa mental hospital. Shut the fck up nasuhulan na yata ito ng Tsina!

  2. She got the Filipina pride without thinking that our country is being invaded slowly but surely by these creeps.

  3. HAMO NA SILA MADAM. NG UMALIS SILA SA SUBIC LALONG DUMAMING CORRUPT NA OPISYAL NG BAYAN. NGAYON MAHIHIYA SILA DAHILNAKA WATCH ANG USA

  4. Miriam is a lawyer. Not a general. Stop messing with the military using your laws. China will step on us and what should we do… sue them? 🙂 LOL Let the Americans stay here. Desperate times call for desperate measures. We can talk about national pride later. Let’s stay alive first.

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