President Rodrigo R. Duterte warned on Thursday he will junk the country’s military alliance with the United States over Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s visa woes.
In his speech, Duterte told the US government to “correct” Dela Rosa’s visa cancellation in one month or he will terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
VFA is an agreement which allows the US forces to conduct military exercises in the Philippines.
“No more bases. They have to start to talk to us because they have to go,” Duterte said.
He made the statement during the distribution of benefits to former rebels in San Isidro, Leyte, on January 23, 2020.
Dela Rosa, who is the former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), recently said his US visa was canceled.
This after the US Senate passed a resolution urging the US government to impose travel and visa restrictions on government officials who were involved in the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs and the detention of Sen. Leila de Lima.
The cancellation did not sit well with Duterte, who is a close friend of Dela Rosa.
Dela Rosa said it is not clear if the cancellation of his visa is related to the US resolution.
Image credits: AP/Bullit Marquez