US treaty review 'inappropriate' at this time, says Bunye

Manila: A palace official on Sunday said there is a need to review a treaty between the United States and the Philippines while at the same time clarifying that such a move is "inappropriate" at this time due to an ongoing case involving an American convicted of raping a Filipina.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said: "Just like any other agreements, the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) can always be subjected to a second look in order to make sure the provisions are attuned to current circumstances and scenarios."

However, he said such a review of the VFA provisions must be undertaken at an "appropriate time" when such a move would not be detrimental to both countries involved.

The VFA outlines the legal limitations of US forces during conduct of training exercises in the Philippines.

"The Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs as well as other institutions of the government are more than willing to assess some provisions of the agreement in consultation with the United States at a time deemed mutually appropriate," Bunye said.

Bunye added the core objective of the review "is to ensure the operability function of the accord are at pace with the times."

Bunye, in a statement issued last week said the Philippines would seek the renegotiation of the VFA in an effort to clarify certain gray areas of the accord, particularly that pertaining to which party, whether US or the Philippines would be given custody of erring personnel.

On Friday, the US Embassy publicly rejected any review of the VFA, while a rape case involving an American soldier remains pending in the courts.

The controversy arising over the insistence by the United States government that a 21-year-old Marine, Lance Corporal Daniel Smith be turned over to US authorities while courts in the Philippines await a final decision on his conviction has put relations between the two allies to its most serious test.