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Trump Downplays Duterte's Termination of Military Pact

Patsy Widakuswara

   WHITE HOUSE - President Donald Trump is downplaying the Philippine
   government's notice to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA)
   that allows American troops to train in the Southeast Asian country,
   saying such a move will save the U.S. "a lot of money."

   "My view is a different than other people. I view it as, 'thank you
   very much, we save a lot of money,'" Trump told reporters Wednesday

   "Three years ago, when ISIS was over running the Philippines, we came
   in and literally single-handedly were able to save them from vicious
   attacks on their islands," Trump said, using an acronym for the Islamic
   State terror group. The U.S. president added he has "very good"
   relations with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

   "We'll see what happens. They'll have to tell me that," Trump said.

   President Duterte gave formal notice to the United States of his
   decision to scrap the VFA late Monday, after repeated threats to
   downgrade the two countries' military alliance. The 1998 agreement
   provides legal permission for thousands of U.S. troops who rotate into
   the Philippines for dozens of military and humanitarian assistance
   exercises each year.

   In a speech late Monday, Duterte said Trump had tried to save the
   agreement but that he (Duterte) had rejected it.

   "America is very rude. They are so rude," the Philippine leader said.

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