RP-Australia SOVFA

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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 Ebdane 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 on its failure to officially transmit this agreement for Senate concurrence.[4]

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[edit] Notes

  1. ^ RP-Aus SOVFA 2007
  2. ^ a b A major security pact, Manila Times, June 2, 2007, <http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/june/02/yehey/opinion/20070602opi1.html>. Retrieved on 2007-12-25 
  3. ^ “Article 18: Transitory Provisions”, 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, Government of the Philippines, <http://www.gov.ph/aboutphil/a18.asp>. Retrieved on 2007-12-25 
  4. ^ 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 on 2007-12-25 

[edit] External links

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