Noy: VFA under constant review

MANILA, Philippines - The review of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) is constant and the US Marine tagged in the killing of a Filipino transgender is not getting kid glove treatment, President Aquino assured the public yesterday.

Aquino gave the assurance during the annual presidential forum with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.

There has been criticism that the VFA was not working in the interest of the Philippines because the country would not get automatic custody of the suspect or accused but instead be subjected to a manifestation before the US government.

“The review is constant. When we started out, amongst the discussions we did have are issues with regard to the initial case – the one with (US soldier Daniel) Smith – and we highlighted the sensitivities of Filipinos being unnecessarily affected. It could have been avoided,” Aquino said.

Smith was involved in a rape case in Subic.

“Previously, in the Daniel Smith case, he was in the US embassy, not our facility – extraterritoriality,” Aquino said.

“Now, Joseph Scott Pemberton is in our camp. I think they are responding to our needs and our sensitivities,” he said, referring to the suspect in the killing of transgender Jeffrey Laude.

Aquino reiterated there was no reason to abrogate the VFA because the act of one or two Americans should not be enough to condemn 300 million Americans.

“In the same token that there have been Filipinos who I assume have also killed Americans in America,” he said.     

The President said the fundamental point that had to be raised was that there was a crime committed and the US side had been cooperative.  – With Christina Mendez