By Leslie Ann Aquino Aside from the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, the Partido Manggagawa (PM) said the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) should also be abrogated. Partido Manggagawa logo
(Twitter / MANILA BULLETIN) "We demand that aside from the VFA, the Mutual Defense Treaty and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement be abrogated too," Judy Ann Miranda, PM secretary-general, said in a statement. "We stand for an independent foreign policy founded on preserving and protecting our country’s sovereignty and national interest, and cooperation with other nations on the basis of common concerns," she added. While they would have wanted President Duterte to tear up the VFA because he stood up for Philippine sovereignty, Miranda said: "That is wishful thinking of a President who also cannot defend our country against China’s incursions.” She said those who argue that the VFA is needed to defend ourselves from China are "wrong," adding that it did not stop China from militarizing the West Philippine Sea (WPS). "It is not war or warmongering that will resolve the WPS dispute. Instead, the Philippines needs to muster a coalition of Southeast Asian nations for a multilateral agreement on the WPS,” Miranda said. The group also took to task the senators who are trying to save the VFA. “It would have been better if these senators had agreed with the termination of the VFA on the right basis of advancing Philippine sovereignty. But again it is too much to ask of these weak-kneed politicians. Apparently their loyalty to Tatay Digong ends where their loyalty to Uncle Sam begins,” Miranda said.