Last August 2 our class discussed about the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement. This joint military greement between two countries has been poorly implement and at the same time abused by both governments. In effect it benefits the US government while reducing the Philippines' right to national sovereignty in judicial and military.
An example is, it as an AFFRONT TO OUR CONSTITUTION. According to Article II, Sec. 8 "The Philippines, consistent with the national interest, adopts and pursues a policy of freedom from nuclear weapons in its territory." However there is no clause in the VFA that guarantees right to inspection. In my judgment there should be a clause authorizing Filipino teams to board navals and vessels to inspect and ensure that the US are not carrying any nuclear weapons and various types of weapons of mass destruction.
Another example is that it GRANTS EXTRATERRITORIAL RIGHTS TO AMERICANS. Our country is sovereign and like all sovereign nations, the country should subject everybody in its territory to its laws. It government must have full jurisdiction over any person; citizen or visiting alien who commits a crime in its territory. However in the VFA agreement, the Philippines will have to waive its sovereign rights in terms of jurisdiction. If an American soldier comes under VFA and commits crimes he will not be subjected to our country’s courts, which only proves to show that the Americans are above our laws.
Lastly the VFA CAN INVOLVE US IN UNECESSARY INTERNATIONAL CONFLICTS. In article 1 the definition of military “activities” agreed upon by the Philippine and US governments is somewhat vague and undefined. What if the US tests nuclear weapons and bombs in our land, which can cause other countries to react? It automatically puts our country in danger.
These are some of the many issues that can be observed in the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement. The VFA cannot be reformed or suspended. Only a total termination of the VFA and guarantee that such agreements will not be crafted again can truly fulfill the Filipino’s thirst for a unadulterated national sovereignty and human rights.
An example is, it as an AFFRONT TO OUR CONSTITUTION. According to Article II, Sec. 8 "The Philippines, consistent with the national interest, adopts and pursues a policy of freedom from nuclear weapons in its territory." However there is no clause in the VFA that guarantees right to inspection. In my judgment there should be a clause authorizing Filipino teams to board navals and vessels to inspect and ensure that the US are not carrying any nuclear weapons and various types of weapons of mass destruction.
Another example is that it GRANTS EXTRATERRITORIAL RIGHTS TO AMERICANS. Our country is sovereign and like all sovereign nations, the country should subject everybody in its territory to its laws. It government must have full jurisdiction over any person; citizen or visiting alien who commits a crime in its territory. However in the VFA agreement, the Philippines will have to waive its sovereign rights in terms of jurisdiction. If an American soldier comes under VFA and commits crimes he will not be subjected to our country’s courts, which only proves to show that the Americans are above our laws.
Lastly the VFA CAN INVOLVE US IN UNECESSARY INTERNATIONAL CONFLICTS. In article 1 the definition of military “activities” agreed upon by the Philippine and US governments is somewhat vague and undefined. What if the US tests nuclear weapons and bombs in our land, which can cause other countries to react? It automatically puts our country in danger.
These are some of the many issues that can be observed in the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement. The VFA cannot be reformed or suspended. Only a total termination of the VFA and guarantee that such agreements will not be crafted again can truly fulfill the Filipino’s thirst for a unadulterated national sovereignty and human rights.
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