VFA termination on hold as US softens on custody
THE congressional panel that called for the immediate termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States has put the resolution on hold after American officials said they are willing to discuss transferring custody of four US marines accused of raping a Filipina.
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, chairman of the bicameral legislative oversight committee on the VFA, said deferring the resolution would give Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo time to negotiate a turnover of the suspects.
This developed after Santiago and other members of the committee met with US embassy officials yesterday and checked on the condition of the four marines accused of raping a 22-year-old Filipina in Subic last November.
“The meeting was very amicable. There was a meeting of the minds on custody – that it might be with the US embassy at the moment, but they are willing to negotiate with Secretary Romulo,” Santiago said.
She added that the embassy also assured committee members that the marines would not leave Philippine territory until the verdict in the case is handed down.
Santiago said the committee will give Romulo six months to show results. After that, they would meet again to determine what needs to be done.
Santiago said the committee members met the accused soldiers, whom she characterized “very, very young” — aged 20, 21 and 23, and the oldest being 27 and married with two children. Roy Pelovello - Manila Standard Today
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, chairman of the bicameral legislative oversight committee on the VFA, said deferring the resolution would give Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo time to negotiate a turnover of the suspects.
This developed after Santiago and other members of the committee met with US embassy officials yesterday and checked on the condition of the four marines accused of raping a 22-year-old Filipina in Subic last November.
“The meeting was very amicable. There was a meeting of the minds on custody – that it might be with the US embassy at the moment, but they are willing to negotiate with Secretary Romulo,” Santiago said.
She added that the embassy also assured committee members that the marines would not leave Philippine territory until the verdict in the case is handed down.
Santiago said the committee will give Romulo six months to show results. After that, they would meet again to determine what needs to be done.
Santiago said the committee members met the accused soldiers, whom she characterized “very, very young” — aged 20, 21 and 23, and the oldest being 27 and married with two children. Roy Pelovello - Manila Standard Today
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
9:23 AM
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