SC urged: Affirm Senate role in ending treaties

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MANILA, Philippines – The Senate has asked the Supreme Court to affirm its power requiring its concurrence in the termination of treaties.

In its petition for declaratory relief and mandamus, the Senate also called on the high court to order the Office of the Executive Secretary to refer the notice of withdrawal from the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) to the chamber for its concurrence.

Declaratory relief is an action to determine any question on the validity arising from an instrument, executive order, regulation or statute, among others while mandamus means to compel the other party to perform a particular act.

“It is respectfully prayed that this Honorable Court…issue an order directing respondents to forthwith refer the Notice of Withdrawal to the Senate of the Philippines for its concurrence, pursuant to Section 21 Article VII of the 1987 Constitution,” read the petition.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senators Panfilo Lacson, and Richard Gordon personally went to the Supreme Court to file the petition which included Resolution 337.

The resolution urged the high court to define the chamber’s authority in scrapping international agreements following the President’s unilateral decision to terminate the VFA.

The Philippines’ notice of withdrawal came at the heels of the cancellation of the US Visa of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, a close ally of President Duterte.

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