Protect the bigger interest, not Bato’s

I cannot understand President Duterte’s reported position to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) in the event the United States does not correct the visa ban on Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

It’s blackmail, plain and simple.

The VFA is forged not only to benefit the United States alone; the Philippines and other countries in the region stand to benefit from it, too. It is a regional security cover.If the President makes good on his threat, it would amount to equating one’s personal interest with the interest of our country’s security as well as our neighbors’. We cannot afford at this time to denigrate our security agreement with a world power, considering developments in the region over which we have no control. BENJIE GUERRERO, Verjandel Hotel, Diliman,