CPP dares Duterte to terminate VFA

LUCENA CITY — The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) dared President Rodrigo Duterte to make good on his word to abrogate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States and mocked the President in anticipation of another recantation.

“For decades, the Filipino people have demanded the abrogation of the VFA which has allowed for the trampling of Philippine sovereignty by US military forces, as well as numerous human rights violations including rape and murder,” the CPP said, noting that Duterte had repeatedly declared he would also abrogate the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), a supplementary agreement to the VFA, “only to recant soon afterward.”

“The Filipino people must vigorously push Rodrigo Duterte to finally scrap the VFA and other unequal military treaties. They must also call for the pullout of all foreign troops from Philippine territory,” the communist group said. “The Filipino people must express outrage at another Duterte backtrack.”

The CPP claimed “US military forces have dominated the country through unequal pacts” as the Mutual Defense Treaty, VFA, and EDCA.

The VFA, which came into force in 1999, outlines the rules governing US troops that are temporarily in the country. INQ