Phl eyeing VFA with South Korea

A visiting forces agreement between the Philippines and South Korea could soon be in the works, the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief said on Friday, May 9.

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AFP Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. hinted at the possibility of future negotiations for the military agreement during the closing ceremony of the Balikatan joint exercises.

Brawner mentioned South Korea among several countries with which the Philippines aims to formalize a VFA, which will allow troops from both nations to be deployed on each other's territory.

"We have also already signed the status of visiting forces agreement with New Zealand, and very soon with Canada, with France, and hopefully with South Korea," Brawner said in his speech.

The AFP chief mentioned the Philippines' ongoing VFA talks with these countries in the context of the large number of participants that sent observers to this year's Balikatan exercises.

Nineteen nations participated as observers in the military drills, including South Korea, with four European countries — the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Poland joining as observers for the first time.