By Jeffrey Damicog
The Department of Justice (DOJ) welcomed separate impact assessments that will be made by other government agencies concerning the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO /MANILA BULLETIN)
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the DOJ will be submitting within the week its own assessment.
“Other agencies may submit their own impact assessment separately,” the Secretary said. “The DOJ report will consolidate the assessment made by other concerned executive agencies.”
Malacañang had previously directed the DOJ to study the procedure on the VFA termination and, later, instructed it to also conduct an impact assessment.
Guevarra was expected to meet this Monday (Feb. 3) with the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces (PCVF) to discuss the VFA termination’s impact.
Guevarra already met with the Cabinet cluster on security, justice, and peace last Friday (Jan. 31), also concerning the matter.
“Can’t disclose the recommendation of the Cabinet security cluster at this time,” Guevarra had said regarding Friday’s meeting. “But there was a consensus to present the pros and cons of the VFA termination to the president notwithstanding his seeming resoluteness to end the agreement.”
Prior this, DOJ Undersecretary Markk Perete, on behalf of Guevarra, also met with the PCVF last Jan. 27 but also declined to disclose what took place during the meeting.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO /MANILA BULLETIN)
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the DOJ will be submitting within the week its own assessment.
“Other agencies may submit their own impact assessment separately,” the Secretary said. “The DOJ report will consolidate the assessment made by other concerned executive agencies.”
Malacañang had previously directed the DOJ to study the procedure on the VFA termination and, later, instructed it to also conduct an impact assessment.
Guevarra was expected to meet this Monday (Feb. 3) with the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces (PCVF) to discuss the VFA termination’s impact.
Guevarra already met with the Cabinet cluster on security, justice, and peace last Friday (Jan. 31), also concerning the matter.
“Can’t disclose the recommendation of the Cabinet security cluster at this time,” Guevarra had said regarding Friday’s meeting. “But there was a consensus to present the pros and cons of the VFA termination to the president notwithstanding his seeming resoluteness to end the agreement.”
Prior this, DOJ Undersecretary Markk Perete, on behalf of Guevarra, also met with the PCVF last Jan. 27 but also declined to disclose what took place during the meeting.