February 6, 2020 – Senator Grace Poe questions the VFA
provision that gives power to United States to deny the Visa of Filipinos that
is not allowed to enter in their country. For the reason that American soldiers
and citizens don’t need to get a Visa when visiting in the Philippines.
On the report from news 5, Grace Poe’s statement was aired,
questioning the Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Lopez Locsin
Jr. – “Military and civilian personnel are except from passport and visa regulations
upon entering and departing the Philippines.Sula except, pero tayo; the US
embassy reserves the right to deny visas to persons who are In knowledgeable for
entry into United States. Meaning, we don’t have the power to determine who
they bring in here but they do that have prerogative when it comes to our own
personnel going to the US. Is that correct?”
Teddy Locsin explained that when the Visiting Force
Agreement (VFA) is implemented, hundreds of US personnel coming in. He also
added that US, prior to their personnel in a course of joint military
exercise, they may change the personnel they are sending in that particular deployment.
While when it comes to Filipinos and our military personnel that is not part of
a military exercise, they are regulated by the US paper requirements.
Teddy Locsin also added about some situations of Americans
in the Philippines that when an American personnel was detained for a crime,
they are totally safe not like in other countries. Teddy also stated that the
US may be able to asses that the Philippines with an identical justice system same
as the US.
In addition prior to Teddy Locsin’s statement, the
Philippines can assure that the US can trust them by now for the reason that
they will not abuse.
