Malacañang on Monday said senators have the right to question the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) before the Supreme Court, but maintained that the Senate’s concurrence is not needed in the abrogation of a treaty. Senate President Vicente Sotto 3rd said three incumbent senators and two former senators would join him in elevating the issue before the high court. “They feel that the Constitution is clear, that not only [Senate] concurrence [is needed], ‘pag nagkaroon ng (in the signing of) treaties, kung hindi pati (but also their) abrogation. So, iyong isyung iyon lang ang dadalhin nila sa Korte Suprema, and okay iyon (That’s the issue they will bring before the Supreme Court, and that’s OK),” Panelo said. “So, we’ll let the Supreme Court decide.”Last week, the Philippines gave notice to the United States that it was terminating the VFA between the two countries.

Source: Manila Times February 17, 2020 18:22 UTC