Miriam eyes new resolution vs. VFA

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago is eyeing to file a resolution seeking either renegotiation or termination of the Philippines' Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States following the killing of a Filipino transgender woman allegedly by an American soldier in Olongapo City.

"This is an inquiry in aid of legislation, the proposed legislation is that I will submit a resolution to negotiate or terminate VFA," Santiago told reporters after the hearing of the Senate foreign affairs committee on the killing of 26-year-old Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude last October 11.

Santiago recalled that she filed a similar resolution five years ago, which was eventually passed in the Senate. The agreement, however, has "never been re-negotiated."

"It is time for the [executive branch] to heed the call of the legislative department to re-negotiate the agreement," she said.

The VFA, signed by Manila and Washington in 1998, paved the way for the return of American troops to the country on a temporary basis seven years after Filipino legislators voted to shut down the US bases in Subic and Clark Field, Pampanga.

The killing of Laude allegedly by US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton sparked renewed calls for the termination of VFA. Pemberton is currently detained at Camp Aguinaldo.

The 19-year-old US Marine, who had taken part in joint military exercises recently, was initially held aboard the US warship USS Peleliu docked in Subic after he was identified as the primary suspect in the killing.

Pemberton's custody

Santiago, a vocal critic of the VFA, said she finds Pemberton's transfer to Camp Aguinaldo as “offensive.”

"What strike me as offensive is that… he is being guarded by Americans. What for? Since there are members of the Armed Forces who ware already guarding the premises," she said.

"I find that offensive to us because it indicates that there is no trust on the own capability of our owned Armed Forces," Santiago added.

Earlier, Santiago explained that the custody of the suspect belongs to the Philippines under the VFA.

However, the US Embassy in Manila clarified that Pemberton's custody remain in Washington until the case came into conclusion.

"In accordance with the US-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement, the United States has a right to retain custody of a suspect from the commission of the alleged offense until completion of all judicial proceedings," the embassy said in a statement.  —KBK, GMA News