Gabriela Solon to Arroyo: Terminate US-RP VFA Now

"The Philippine government should uncompromisingly enforce custody over Smith and must follow the Supreme Court decision. Arroyo administration’s footdragging shows its servility to the US interests, putting our women to greater shame and danger.”

Thus said Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women's Party Representative Liza Maza today as reports have it that government is in no rush to get custody over convicted rapist Corporal Daniel Smith despite Supreme Court's order that he be moved from the US Embassy to a Philippine prison.

The Gabriela solon said that the SC ruling on Smith's custody should be implemented in no time, but because the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement was still upheld, justice would not be served in cases that involve US military personnel because the question of jurisdiction is not clear.

“With the Supreme Court ruling the VFA constitutional and all its vague provisions, we are virtually surrendering our sovereignty to the US. Clearly, the VFA violates the constitutional provision that bars permanent basing of US troops in our land. Worst, the US doesn't recognize VFA at all which only means that it is not enforceable,” Maza said.

“With the scheduled military exercises of US troops in Masbate, Albay, and Sorsogon, our communities, especially our women and children are imperiled given that this unequal agreement can be maximized by the US to their advantage. Thus, we call on the Arroyo administration to pull out the US troops in the country in no delay,” Maza added.

“The Arroyo administration must immediately terminate the RP-US VFA in order to protect our people from further abuse. It is just condemnable how this present administration can simply stand to witness injustices inflicted upon its people,” Maza stressed.