Rappler's latest stories on VFA
Creeping ban on media coverage of PH-U.S. Balikatan drills
How will President Rodrigo Duterte's pivot to China change the long-standing alliance between the Philippine and US militaries? It's an important geopolitical issue that impacts the security landscape.
U.S. increases surveillance support to PH military
The United States deployed the Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft Systems UAS to Mindanao the US embassy says in a statement
U.S. to conduct air strikes in Marawi? No need, says Lorenzana
The Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the US may not apply according to AFP chief General Eduardo Año
Cayetano, Sotto, Carpio | Evening wRap
Watch the evening newscast with Zak Yuson
SC's Carpio: Philippines can't have VFA with China
It s difficult to have a VFA with a country claiming your territory For me it is common sense says Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio
14 senators' resolution: Senate has a say in termination of treaties
'The power to bind the Philippines by a treaty and international agreement is vested jointly by the Constitution in the President and the Senate,' reads the Senate resolution
De Lima: Duterte changing PH foreign policy to serve his ego
There is so much at stake here – the Filipino people s lives well being security and even our very sovereignty says Senator Leila de Lima
Duterte to U.S.: Pay for troops to stay in PH
You want to come back here? You pay us You want bases here? Pay us Transaction tayo pera pera nalang tayo mabuti pa says President Rodrigo Duterte on the possible abrogation of the VFA
Duterte wants VFA scrapped, but will 'wait' for Trump
Though he wants the military deal with the US abrogated Duterte says he will wait before making any decision in deference to Donald Trump s assumption of the US presidency
SC upholds PH-US military deal
The SC affirms its January ruling upholding the constitutionality of EDCA saying petitioners failed to raise new arguments in their motions for reconsideration
Pemberton sentence reduced
The lawyer for the Laude family says stresses that the lighter penalty of 6 10 years imprisonment still disqualifies Pemberton from seeking early release through parole
Laude case: Pemberton files appeal to reverse conviction
UPDATED The American s lawyer also files a separate motion seeking a reduced sentence for the marine in the event that the acquittal is not granted
Aquino defends cell for Pemberton amid renovation
The US reportedly wants Pemberton’s detention cell in the Philippines to meet American standards
Pemberton to return to Camp Aguinaldo
UPDATED This comes after Pemberton s counsel filed an urgent motion asking the court to direct the US Marine s confinement to the custodial center instead of the New Bilibid Prison
PH officials welcome Pemberton verdict, but some wary
Leftist lawmakers fear the PH US Visiting Forces Agreement could still come into play
LOOKING BACK: Daniel Smith and the Subic rape case
Pemberton s fate mirrors that of fellow US serviceman Daniel Smith who was implicated in the Subic rape case nearly a decade ago
PH, US coast guard units eye ‘Balikatan’
’The trend now is white to white ’ PCG commandant Admiral Rodolfo Isorena says referring to a ‘coast guard to coast guard’ set up
Japan military chief in PH for Pacific Partnership 2015
Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano is in the Philippines to observe the largest multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo Asia Pacific region
Murder case vs Pemberton at risk of being downgraded to homicide
Very vital evidence on the murder case against US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton was not admitted by the local court trying him a prosecutor says
US marine's turn to present evidence in Laude murder trial
There are 17 more expected trial dates for the defense to present all counterevidence in the murder trial of transgender Filipina Jennifer Laude
PH pushes for Japanese arms in face of China dispute
The Philippines conducts naval exercises with Japan and is now pushing for an agreement to allow large scale joint military exercises
PH: Naval drills with Japan OK despite no VFA
The Philippine government doesn t expect to ratify a Visiting Forces Agreement with Japan before President Benigno Aquino III steps down from office
Philippines defends proposed VFA with ex-invader Japan
While critics cite Japan s atrocities in the Philippines during World War II Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin says Filipinos should not remain stuck in the past
MOA allows historic PH-Japan maritime exercises
21 officers from the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and 15 from the Philippine Navy hold a joint search and rescue operation off Palawan
'Foreign alliances important in sea row with China'
Chanting China go away an estimated 400 people from various groups converge in front of the Chinese embassy in Makati City to protest its reclamation in the South China Sea
PH, Japan to begin VFA talks
It will be a treaty not an executive agreement that will require Senate ratification says President Benigno Aquino III
Laude camp to SC: Order Pemberton's move to Olongapo jail
The sisters of slain Filipino transgender Jennifer Laude want the US soldier s transfer from a Philippine military camp to the Olongapo City Jail
Sex at sea: Fil-Am US Navy officer guilty of procuring prostitutes
(UPDATED) The US Justice Department's warning against hiring sex workers comes after a string of sex trade scandals involving federal agents and military personnel
Laude kin: Replace state prosecutor in Pemberton trial
On the first day of the murder trial Olongapo Prosecutor Emelie Fe delos Santos falls short of confirming the P21 M offer to let Pemberton plead guilty to a lesser offense
Court enters 'not guilty' plea for Pemberton
UPDATED The American soldier refuses to enter a plea for the murder case against him during his arraignment at the Olongapo court so the court enters a not guilty plea
DOJ clears way for Pemberton's murder trial
The Department of Justice resolution clears a potential impediment to US Lance Corporal Joseph Pemberton s arraignment before an Olongapo trial court scheduled on February 23
DOJ: Pemberton trial for murder may proceed
After a review of the case as requested by suspect Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton the justice department finds all the elements of murder satisfied
Top US envoy for East Asia in Manila for PH-US talks
US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel is in Manila for bilateral talks likely to touch on the South China Sea dispute
Pemberton appears in Olongapo court
UPDATED US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton undergoes booking procedure that enables the Olongapo Regional Trial Court RTC Branch 74 to gain jurisdiction over the serviceman but is not arraigned yet
US Marine to appear before Olongapo court
The routine booking procedure requires the presence of Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton who is accused of murdering a Filipino transgender woman before the court on Friday morning December 19
Amend Pemberton arrest warrant, Laude camp asks court
The Laude camp says the arrest warrant is addressed to the DFA subjecting its implementation to the department s interpretation of the legal circumstances of the US marine
PH won’t fight for Pemberton custody
Philippine foreign affairs spokesperson Charles Jose says We will not request anymore We will just wait for the court’s advice on when the trial will start
US denies PH request for custody over marine
UPDATED The Philippines says it is disappointed that the US refuses to waive custody over Pemberton accused of killing Filipino transgender woman Jennifer Laude
Arrest warrant out for US marine over Laude slay
The Philippine foreign affairs department says it will now seek custody over the US Marine who is detained at the Philippine military headquarters under US custody
Murder case filed vs US marine over Laude slay
It s a capital offense so there will be no bail the prosecutor says after filing a murder case against the US marine accused of killing a transgender Filipina
SolGen: EDCA no guarantee US will aid PH in sea dispute
While the focus of the legal battle has been whether EDCA needs Senate ratification Supreme Court justices have grilled petitioners and Acting Solicitor General Florin Hilbay about the benefits of EDCA
SC denies Laude kin's intervention in EDCA case
The High Court says the petition to intervene that Jennifer Laude s mother and sisters filed contains sensitive evidence that might prejudice the murder case over her slay
Elite PH, US units launch joint exercises in Basilan
Balance Piston is launched at the headquarters of the 4th Special Forces Battalion in Basilan and will run until November 26
Scrap VFA? It's part of PH 'defense strategy'
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin says terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement will have an adverse effect on the country s defense posture
US Marine says no basis for Laude murder charge
If prosecutors elevate the case to court US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton asks that the murder charge be reduced to homicide says his lawyer
Miriam Santiago, Bello push for VFA termination
But most lawmakers as well as the President are more inclined to review the PH US agreement than end it
Stopping Sueselbeck's departure is 'due process' - De Lima
The justice department has to determine if Sueselbeck would be put in the immigration black list
#AnimatED: Murder tests PH-US military ties, calls for tight balancing act
Justice should be served – the courts should conduct a fair trial without any hint of special treatment for Pemberton – and our long term security interest be upheld
Jennifer Laude, symbol of 'oppressed' nation, laid to rest
Laude s fiancé Marc Sueselbeck mother Julita stepfather Franco Cabillan sisters Michelle and Marilou lead the funeral procession
Not a good time to review VFA, says US envoy
UPDATED Ambassador Philip Goldberg says the United States is always open to talking about these issues but this shouldn’t be done in the middle of the debate over the custody of a US Marine suspected of killing a Filipino
