RP–Australia SOVFA
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 Philippines |
 Australia |
The RP-Australia Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) is a bilateral agreement between the governments of the Republic of the Philippines and the Commonwealth of Australia concerning the status of visiting forces from each state while in the territory of the other state.[1] The agreement was signed in Canberra, Australia on 31 May 2007 by Philippine Defense Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. and his Australian counterpart Defence Minister Brendan Nelson.[2] The signing was witnessed by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Australian Prime Minister John Howard.[2]
Under Article XVIII, Section 25 of the Philippine constitution, foreign military bases, troops, or facilities may only be allowed in the Philippines under a treaty duly concurred in by the Senate.[3] A press release issued October 3, 2007 by the Philippine Senate announced that senators Mar Roxas and Jinggoy Estrada called the attention of the Office of the President to its failure to officially transmit this agreement for Senate concurrence.[4] As of December 2010[update], the Australian government considers the agreement to be "awaiting ratification by the Philippine Senate."[5]
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES CONCERNING THE STATUS OF VISITING FORCES OF EACH STATE IN THE TERRITORY OF THE OTHER STATE, Government of Australia, May 31, 2007, http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/7august2007/treaties/philippines_text.pdf, retrieved 2007-12-25
- ^ a b A major security pact, Manila Times, June 2, 2007, http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/june/02/yehey/opinion/20070602opi1.html, retrieved 2007-12-25
- ^ "Article XVIII: Transitory Provisions", 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, Chan Robles Law Library, http://www.chanrobles.com/article18.htm, retrieved 2010-07-20
- ^ Opposition Senators Question Non-Transmittal of RP-Aussie VFA, Senate of the Philippines, October 3, 2007, http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2007/1003_roxas2.asp, retrieved 2007-12-25
- ^ Republic of the Philippines Country Brief - December 2010, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Government of Australia.
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