Now, why would Sen. Bato “Shit happens” dela Rosa’s wailing, whining and “hugot” lines about the cancellation of his US visa jerk President Duterte to shoot from the hip and find a target: the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA)?
What is the connection between Dela Rosa’s canceled US visa, which is a personal issue, and the abrogation of the VFA, a bilateral military agreement? Such an irrational act by Mr. Duterte can eventually isolate us from the community of nations that is working to promote peace, unity, and cooperation. For a Third World country prone to natural disasters, we need every ounce of help from the international community. Unfortunately, puro atras si Mr. Duterte: atras sa Rome Statute, atras sa arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea, atras sa VFA. We might end up totally dependent on the neighborhood bully that deals with nations on the principle of “one for you, two for me.”
On the one hand, Dela Rosa should stop harping about his canceled US visa. He should take a cue from honorable and patriotic senior officials such as former foreign secretary Albert del Rosario and former ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales who, when barred from entering Hong Kong, left with their dignity intact, because they knew that nations have the sovereign right to choose the persons who can partake of their hospitality. But, then, they are learned Filipinos who know and follow the rule of law.
EVELYN SILAY, evelyndsilay@gmail.com