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'It's about time we rely on ourselves': Philippines officially terminates troop agreement with U.S 'It's about time we rely on ourselves': Philippines tear up key military treaty with US
(32 minutes later)
The relations between traditional allies has reached a new low as Manila warned the US that it is ending the agreement that allowed American troops to set foot on the Philippine soil. Relations between two traditional allies have reached a new low after Manila warned the US that it is ending an agreement that allows American troops to set foot on the Philippines soil.
"It's about time we rely on ourselves, we will strengthen our own defences and not rely on any other country," Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman Salvador Panelo told a regular briefing.
The notice of termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement was signed by Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin Jr on Tuesday and “will be delivered to the US Embassy in Manila forthwith,” Undersecretary at the Department of Foreign Affairs Brigido Dulay said.
Signed in 1998, the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) regulates the entry of US warships, aircraft and soldiers into the Philippines. It also allows the US troops to be immune from prosecution by local authorities for some of the crimes committed on the Philippine soil. Manila sent formal notice to the US embassy on Tuesday that it is terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). 
The decision to end the VFA comes after the US canceled the visa of former Philippines police chief, Senator Ronald dela Rosa, last month, who the Human Rights Watch (HRW) accuses of leading extrajudicial killings during Duterte’s drug war. Duterte himself has threatened to terminate the military cooperation agreement with the US if it does not reverse the visa cancellation.
Panelo said that the nation is open to signing VFAs with other countries as long as they are “mutually beneficial, not one-sided.” President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesperson Salvador Panelo said it was done in order to be independent from Washington in military affairs.
The two countries have had rocky relations ever since Duterte assumed office in 2016. The US officials have been critical of his campaign against drug cartels. The Philippine leader dismissed the attacks, saying that harsh measures are necessary to eradicate the drug-related organized crime, which has been plaguing the country. Panelo told reporters that the nation is open to signing VFAs with other countries as long as they are "mutually beneficial, not one-sided."
DETAILS TO FOLLOW Signed in 1998, the VFA regulates the entry of US warships, aircraft and soldiers into the Philippines. It also allows US troops to be immune from prosecution by local authorities for some crimes committed on the Philippines soil.
The decision to end the VFA comes after the US canceled the visa of former Philippines police chief, Senator Ronald dela Rosa, last month, who the Human Rights Watch (HRW) accuses of leading extrajudicial killings during Duterte's drug war. Duterte himself has threatened to terminate the military cooperation agreement with the US if it does not reverse the visa cancellation.
The US and the Philippines have long remained strategic partners in the Asia-Pacific, as Washington often backed Manila in its diplomatic rows with Beijing over ship movements in the South China Sea.
However, relations between the states became rocky after Duterte assumed office in 2016. US officials have been criticizing Duterte's campaign against powerful drug cartels and accused him of human rights abuses. The Philippines leader dismissed the attacks, saying that harsh measures are necessary to eradicate the drug-related organized crime that has been plaguing the country.
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