Bato to reapply for US visa if Duterte wants him to join US-Asean summit

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said Saturday he will reapply for a U.S. visa should President Rodrigo Duterte wants him included in the Philippine delegation to the US-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit this coming March.

“Just in case, tatanggapin ni Pangulo imbitasyon ni [US President] Donald Trump na Asean Summit sa America [tapos] sasabihin ni Pangulo, ‘sumama ka sakin Bato,’ I have to apply [for US visa],” Dela Rosa, whose US visa was revoked, told DWIZ when asked if he plans to secure a US visa again.

(If Duterte will accept Trump’s invitation in Asean summit in US and if Duterte will say ‘come with me Bato,’ I have to reapply for U.S. visa.)

“Other than that, hindi na ako mag-aapply [I will not apply for US visa],” the senator added.

But Duterte, in an interview with a Russian international television network that he had declined Trump’s invitation to attend the summit in Las Vegas.

On Wednesday, the senator, who is also a former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP),  admitted that the U.S. had revoked his visa. He said the U.S. Embassy had failed to explain why his visa was canceled.

This development had prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to threaten to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, which was first implemented in 1999.

The VFA allows cooperation between the defense forces of the Philippines and the U.S. to hold joint training programs.

Edited by MUF