(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Amid calls for the review and abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement between the United States and the Philippines, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto del Rosario said yesterday that the Philippines will not move for a renegotiation of the agreement.
Del Rosario noted that there are mechanisms under the VFA that can be used by both parties as guidelines on issues regarding the jurisdiction and legal custody in crime-related concerns.
"We are looking at the smooth implementation of the mechanism, I think this time, we are not for a renegotiation, because if there is a material change then we have to resubmit the whole thing back to the Senate," Del Rosario said in an interview.
During the budget hearing at the Senate, Del Rosario told Senate finance subcommittee chairperson Sen Loren Legarda that the US government will also not be amenable for any amendment to the VFA.
Del Rosario clarified that the ongoing review conducted at the executive department level has been "ongoing" for a while even before the alleged involvement of a US serviceman in the slay of transgender Filipina Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude last October 11.
"We are reviewing the VFA in its entirety, to see how we can, fine tune it," Del Rosario added.
In the wake of the controversy on the Olongapo incident, Del Rosario said the DFA is also looking on the provisions on jurisdiction and custody. "Well, the sticky points are: jurisdiction, the custody and official duty. We are looking at all of those," he added.
During the hearing, the foreign affairs secretary said that the Philippine government will request for the legal custody of US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton once formal charges are filed before the court.
When asked by Legarda on how similar incidents where crimes by US servicemen are committed in Philippine shores can be prevented in the future, del Rosario echoed the statement of President Aquino that crimes happen everywhere regardless of victims.
Laude was buried yesterday afternoon.
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